Biography of Judith Jamison

About the Artist

Judith Jamison was appointed Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in December 1989 at the request of her mentor, Alvin Ailey.  A native of Philadelphia, she studied with Marion Cuyjet, was discovered by Agnes de Mille and made her New York debut with American Ballet Theatre in 1964. She became a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1965 and danced with the company for 15 years to great acclaim. After appearing on Broadway in Sophisticated Ladies, Jamison formed her own company, The Jamison Project. In 2002 her choreographic piece HERE . . .NOW. was commissioned for the Cultural Olympiad in Salt Lake City.

Jamison's many distinguished awards and honorary degrees include an Emmy, an honorary doctorate from Howard University, The Algur H. Meadows Award from Southern Methodist University, the Paul Robeson award from the Actors' Equity Association, The "Making a Difference" Award by the NAACP ACT-SO, a Kennedy Center Honor, and a National Medal of Arts, the most prestigious award presented to artists in the United States.