Judith Jamison in a white dress in Alvin Ailey's 'Cry'
Ailey Extension

New York, NY

Celebrating Judith Jamison Workshop

May 10

Date

May 10

Location

  • The Ailey Studios
  • 405 W 55th Street
  • New York, NY

Time

1:00 - 3PM

This workshop is available both online and in-studio.

Celebrate Mother’s Day at AILEY as we honor Judith Jamison on what would’ve been her 83rd birthday and is now recognized as Judith Jamison Day in New York City.

Led by Ailey instructor and former Ailey dancer Linda Celeste Sims, participants will learn choreography from one of Judith Jamison’s most iconic roles in Alvin Ailey’s ballet Cry as well as excerpts from Ms. Jamison’s choreographic work Divining.

Alvin Ailey choreographed Cry as a birthday present for his mother and dedicated it "to all Black women everywhere—especially our mothers." In the three-part solo, the dancer, clad in a white leotard and long ruffled skirt, brings the audience on a journey of bitter sorrow, brutal hardship, and ecstatic joy. Divining was Judith Jamison's first choreographic success and displays the musical sophistication and complexity of movement that marked her as a promising dancemaker.

This workshop is open to dancers of all levels over the age of 13.

About the Instructor

Linda Celeste Sims (Bronx, NY) began training at Ballet Hispanico School of Dance and graduated from LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts. She was a member of Ballet Hispanico from 1994–1996 and danced with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater from 1996–2020 where she was assistant to the rehearsal director. 

Sims won Arts Recognition in 1994, Outstanding Performance at the 2014 New York Dance and Performance Award (Bessie), the 2016 Inspiración Award from Ballet Hispánico, the 2017 Dance Magazine Award, and was honored in 2019 at BAAD’s 20th Anniversary. Sims originated featured roles by Judith Jamison, Donald Byrd, Alonzo King, Dwight Rhoden, Ronald K. Brown, Mauro Bigonzetti, Jennifer Muller, Karole Armitage, Rennie Harris, Christopher L. Huggins, and Aszure Barton.

FAQs

Hero Credit: Photo by Jack Mitchell