Iconic dancer/choreographer Judith Jamison, a Philadelphia native and the former artistic director of the internationally acclaimed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is one of four renowned leaders and achievers being honored for their lifetime accomplishments with the 33rd annual Common Wealth Awards of Distinguished Service.
Life is about to change for Sylvia Waters. In June, the artistic director for the Ailey II Dance Company will retire from the company of young dancers she has led for nearly four decades.
The executive director of the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation will step down in 2013, ending a 16-year run in which she oversaw significant growth, the organization said Wednesday.
Sylvia Waters had no intention of leading a dance company but the legendary Alvin Ailey saw a passion in her that he would not allow the world to pass by. Some 35 years ago, the late American choreographer and activist invited Waters to launch Ailey II — the junior company to his school and it has since has grown into an international success story.
Dance seems to have always been a part of Judith Jamison's road in life. Growing up, she trained early in dance and music and attended the Philadelphia Dance Academy. In 1964, she started performing with the American Ballet Theatre.
Given that she is 77 years old and has been on the board of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for 17 years, 11 as chairwoman, Joan H. Weill clearly does not need to serve any longer. She could simply be enjoying time with her husband, Sanford I. Weill, who recently retired as the head of Citigroup.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has signed its first multi-year agreement with City Center, according to officials of the two companies who were scheduled to announce that arrangement on Tuesday.
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has performed at New York City Center since 1971, but the arrangement has not been formalized until now: Both parties will announce Tuesday that the troupe will become the venue's Principal Dance Company and will continue to perform its five-week winter season at City Center for the next 10 years.
Judith Jamison: Dance Legend. Judith was recently named the Artistic Director Emeritus for Alvin Ailey, a dance company she first joined in 1965.
Sylvia Waters, the former dancer who has led the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's second company, Ailey II, for nearly 40 years, will step down as artistic director in June 2012, the company will announce Thursday.