Judith Jamison leans her head on her shoulder with one hand covering the top of her head

Repertory

Facets

COMPANIES

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

CHOREOGRAPHER

John Butler

RUN TIME

17 Minutes

WORLD PREMIERE

New York City Center, 1976

MUSIC

Various

COSTUMES

Jane Greenwood

LIGHTING

Thomas Skelton

This solo created for Judith Jamison drew on her star power and popularity to construct a character study of a woman scorned but resolved. As a blues soundtrack of songs by Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters, Dinah Washington, Lena Horne, and Patti LaBelle plays, the woman vamps and struts with sly humor. She pulls dazzling dresses from a trunk and gets herself together before making a high‐fashion exit that draws gasps from the enthralled audience.

Judith Jamison in John Butler's Facets Photo by Jack Mitchell. (©) Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Inc. and Smithsonian Institution

black and white photo of dancer Judith Jamison in mid-performance. She is wearing a flowing white dress, with arms gracefully extended to the sides. Her body is in motion, creating a sense of fluidity and elegance. The background is plain and light-colored.

Judith Jamison in John Butler Facets Photo by Jack Mitchell. (©) Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Inc. and Smithsonian Institution

A group of dancers in flesh tone dresses look up and reach their hands to the sky

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