Dancer and choreographer Judith Jamison, former Ailey Artistic director, Dies at 81

Judith Jamison, the iconic dancer and choreographer who led the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater as artistic director for two decades, passed away on Saturday, November 9, at the age of 81 in New York, following a brief illness, as confirmed by the dance company on Instagram.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Jamison began dancing at just six years old. She joined Alvin Ailey’s modern dance company in 1965, a time when few Black women held prominent roles in American dance, and performed with the company for 15 years. In 1971, she premiered 'Cry', a powerful 17-minute solo piece that Ailey dedicated “to all Black women everywhere, especially our mothers.” Ailey later reflected in his autobiography that 'Cry' was a pivotal moment for Jamison, where she fully found her artistic voice. “With 'Cry', she became herself. Once she found this contact, this release, she poured her being into everybody who came to see her perform,” he wrote.

Beyond her work with Ailey, Jamison also performed on Broadway and later founded her own dance company. She returned to Alvin Ailey in 1989, where she served as artistic director until 2011, shaping the company’s legacy. Throughout her illustrious career, Jamison received numerous accolades, including a Kennedy Center Honor and the National Medal of Arts, cementing her status as a true pioneer in the world of dance.