To refer to Judith Jamison as merely a dancer is an insult. Of course she's a terrific one but the 64-year-old who joined the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater in 1965 is also the leader of an important part of American culture.
In light of the recent downpour of Tulsa Ballet reviews, many of which critized the selection of dances artistic director Marcello Angelini chose to bring to NY, my friend Christopher Atamian writes a note on progamming selection.
How do you pay tribute to Judith Jamison? With a lot of dancing, of course.
There's not shortage of things for Americans to gripe about these days: the crummy job market, swine flu, another season of Wife Swap.
On June 9-14, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's (AAADT) rousing 50th anniversary season rolls into the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) with special performances at the Howard Gilman Opera House (30 Lafayette Avenue).
When the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs at the Kentucky Center on Tuesday, May 19, and Wednesday, May 20, keep an eye on Matthew Rushing. He's the old man of the company — at the advanced age of 35.
For my 16th birthday I was given a present that remains one of my most vivid, dearest memories.
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.