Judith Jamison Memorial Cover

Recognized as one of the most prominent figures in modem dance, Judith Jamison made her New York debut with the American Ballet Theatre at the age of 21. She premiered her first show with the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater in 1965, eventually performing her signature solo, Cry, choreographed by Ailey himself as a tribute to Black women. The performance made Jamison an international celebrity in the world of dance. She danced with Mikhail Baryshnikov in Ailey's 1976 Pax de Duke, and in 1980, she starred with Gregory Hines in the hit Broadway musical Sophisticated Ladies. Upon Ailey's death in 1989, Jamison took on the role of artistic director for the dance company.