R.I.P. to legend Judith Jamison.
I feel so fortunate I saw her on Broadway in Sophisticated Ladies! I was a kid and had no idea what was going on, really, but I appreciated every second of it (it was only the second show I saw on Broadway). There is quite a bit of footage of Sophisticated Ladies, but, sadly, due to an injury Jamison was out of the show during filming. But it lives in my head!
Years later, I studied at Alvin Ailey, which is just wild, considering I am NOT a dancer. My grad school’s movement classes were held at the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater on West 55th Street, and we were taught by Ailey company members. I completely understood the honor of all of this. It took me about a month to get over my sense of awe. I was there three mornings a week so it did become normal. But still, there was an element of, oops, sorry, let me just sneak in and out of the locker room and not get in anyone’s way. We were trained in Lester Horton’s famous “flat back series” (a standard part of Ailey’s training, and really great for posture, sturdiness, and making strong shapes with your body). We all still reference this experience to each other (“Oh God, doing the flat back series at 8 a.m. before coffee, member?”). You had to have the bravery to launch yourself across those massive studio floors – without thinking, without hesitation – doing flat back with all your might – even if you felt shy. And the teachers would yell from the other side of the studio as you flat-backed your way towards them, “YES. THAT’S IT. YES. YES.” Grateful to all of them.
My great friend Shelagh and I, lying on the Alvin Ailey studio floor, at some ungodly hour of the morning before class. In winter, it was dark out when I got off the subway on my way to class.
It was incredible getting to be in the presence of all these people, and that legacy, not to mention – or TO mention – getting to attend the performances of their famous repertoire, including Jamison’s legendary dance piece “Cry”. (I didn’t see her do it, but it is an integral part of their repertory.). Amazing to get to be around all this, even in a tangential way.
^^ The only footage I’ve been able to find of Jamison dancing “Cry”.
Great interview with Jamison here:
I took classes there during Jamison’s time as Artistic Director, so I would sometimes get a glimpse of her in the hallways, surrounded by people, talking/listening seriously, and she was imposing and beautiful, sometimes with a long silk scarf draped around her neck and shoulders falling down her back – her posture so erect and graceful, something only years of dance training could create.
It was surreal and moving, since I had the vivid memory of being a gaga kid, sitting in the balcony at the Lunt-Fontaine theatre, drinking in the stunning show and the dancing, and the striking silhouettes she created just with her body, silhouettes filled with power and intention: you knew who she was, even when she was backlit. And there she was, years later, right in front of me.
What an honor it was, to be – briefly – in the orbit of such an artist.
