Nearly 1,000 happy feet were dancing, stomping, tapping and kicking on a recent Saturday afternoon at the Music Center in downtown L.A., led by local choreographers and dancers such as Robert Gilliam and Linda Yudin, krumper Lil' Tommy the Clown and a surprise instructor - Matthew Rushing, a dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Since making her debut with the American Ballet Theatre in '64, Judith Jamison has become an icon of American dance.
The Ailey troupe made a big impression on Matthew Rushing. And he on it.
Artistic director Judith Jamison reflects on her long relationship with the dance company and its late founder.
Judith Jamison remembers standing backstage glowing with joy when President Barack Obama and his family received a standing ovation at a recent Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performance. She wished her mentor was still alive to see it all.
A conversation with Judith Jamison, Arts Director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
If I could take a guess, I would simply say that God designed my body to move. I can't sit still for more than 10 minutes. I can't read and listen to music at the same time because my mind starts choreographing.
Sylvia Waters and Judith Jamison
It was almost three decades ago that the late, great choreographer Alvin Ailey asked his good friend and former dancer Judith Jamison to take over his young and esteemed company.
At two recent galas, Daniel Ulbricht at NYCB and Matthew Rushing at Ailey took my breath away.