Judith Jamison joined Alvin Ailey Dance 54 years ago. She’s still protecting a legacy of inclusion

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Judith Jamison, artistic director emerita of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recalls early years and the racism the company faced while touring the nation. Her current mission: Keep the late Ailey's integrity alive through a new generation of dancers.

The West Coast premiere of the company’s first two-act ballet, “Lazarus,” is part of four distinct programs to be presented through Sunday. Created by street-dance choreographer Rennie Harris, “Lazarus” is inspired by the life of Ailey and the struggles of the civil rights movement. Other works include Wayne McGregor’s “Kairos,” set to a reimagined “The Four Seasons” by composer Max Richter, and Ronald K. Brown’s “The Call.

Jamison joined the company in 1965, and the fledgling modern troupe had already graduated from what its founder calledThe group toured the country in buses filled with costumes, props, lighting, luggage and dancers. Jamison’s L.A. memories with Ailey: performances at UCLA’s Royce Hall and the Wiltern, and staying in a “very funny little motel” on Wilshire Boulevard.

“Mr. Ailey used to say, ‘I don’t care if you’re green with polka dots. If you can dance, if you love what you’re doing, if you are committed to this, you are welcome.’ ” No matter the decade, dance will always be tough, she said. “If you’re a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, it’s always going to be for bodies that can move exquisitely. What’s beautiful about the repertory is it engages everyone.”Battle’s vision for the company is maintaining Ailey’s legacy through honoring iconic repertory and presenting fresh work.

 

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