Revelations from a lifetime of dance | Judith Jamison and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

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"Dance can elevate our human experience beyond words," says Judith Jamison, artistic director emerita of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. In between performances of excerpts from Alvin Ailey's classic works "Revelations" and "Cry," Jamison reflects on the enduring power of dance to transform history into art that thrills audiences around the world. (Performances by Solomon Dumas, Samantha Figgins and Constance Stamatiou)
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[@Ofa337]

I will always Love Alvin Ailey and Judith Jamison. The first time that I saw "Revelations" I knew that I was ~Home~ This is Dance Royalty.

[@JarinaCarvalhoballet]

😥Alway tears! These dances connect deep into the soul. Touched by the divine, thank you.

[@logicalspirit5358]

I love Alvin Ailey. I cried when I seen it. Reminded of all my strong and reciliant ancestors who built this country. Absolutely amazing

[@fiSoto]

I saw it yesterday with my father. I cried as well, it was so beautiful!!!!!!

[@LostintheTwilightZone]

I first saw them in college in the early 70s. I had never seen anything like it. It totally blew me away and I have continued to follow them wherever I have lived and always bought tickets to see them whenever they were dancing where I could see them.

[@corl1031]

Judith Jamison is a legend, her moves around @ are so powerfully emotional and beautifully expressive, without even getting out of the chair. Ailey is incredible, I love how his work fuses the universality of Horton technique with African and American aesthetics. I think Revelations is the most important work of dance of the century. Like, it's has the most recognized and appreciate choreography of the era.

[@grittykitty50]

i have been privileged to see the great Judith Jamison perform and it is a life-changing experience. it was wonderful to hear her speak about being a part of this iconic group.

[@kirakjear9812]

Dance is how I share my soul with the world. No other form of communication quite like it 👌🏻💕

[@Vierotchka]

Likewise music which is a global language. :)

[@paulinedevolder1554]

This is a wonderful TED talk. Judith Jamison speaks about her dance career with such passion. She had to have been a really great dancer, too, in my opinion. Because she saus that an observer discovered her at an audition, then you must already be able to dance fabulously. What if this hadn’t happened at all was she just as far along? She made her voice heard through dance, so she says: “If you were black and African American and a dancer, any time between the '40s and the '70s, you had much to say, because your complete voice was not being heard.” This TED talk is really worth watching, even if you don't dance yourself.

[@cynthiasmitherman397]

That is one of the best I've seen. I love how the dance tells a story

[@passionkairos]

I miss NYC and the Alvin Ailey Dance Co....Thanks for all those wonderful performances!

[@susandoerr3896]

Dance can be a wonderful healthy spiritual experience or not. Thank you for sharing. I dance at home to all types of music from all over the world if I like it.

[@bluemoon8268]

... seeing Judith Jamison decades ago with the Alvin Ailey Dance Troupe in the Houston Jones Hall was one of the most inspiring moments for me as a dancer myself... another favorite was Sea Shadow by Robert Joffrey Ballet Company ...

[@1JoyPeace]

Revelations is always new each time you see it performed. 💜

[@dellpiemonte5442]

Thank you for the grace and clearly, the hope.

[@CGMaat]

My favorite choreography EVER! JUDITH THE QUINTESSENCE!

[@wildsamfierce]

This is literally the best TED have seen! Judith looked like a proud mom at the end and I loved it.

[@CrimsonLotus-dj6yp]

What a beautiful display! Bravo on the dancers 👍🏾❤🙋🏾‍♀️

[@TwilightDusk-1111Official]

maybe I'm new school, but in performing, I usually am required to do a full bow at the end of the performance. I would love to learn that. Such a small stage, that was very amazing.

[@Indiestroll]

TEARY EYED again. Body movement activism. The passing of the dance torch is moving as well!

[@user-qr2qi9nd6b]

Dance show me the energy ,alive and spirit.

[@A__Lauren]

My heart is happy! Two of my favorites

[@easysimplecuisinefarmer]

Lovely show. Excellent dancers. Lovely music. Perfect! Excellent!

[@clarkclarke]

THANK YOU Ms. Jamison.💕💟💞💟💕

[@lastspoonleft5947]

I needed this

[@richardcomeau57]

@TED thank you for your service. It is invaluable.

[@lu.entrenabailando]

Thank You so much for share this ❤️❤️❤️

[@AshleyYogaDance]

Breathless! Wow!

[@lynchie2073]

fantastic performances!

[@suzannewheeler94]

sometimes dancing isn’t only meant to entertain others, but to stand up to something greater than yourself

[@Melissa-iv9ix]

Awesome! Inspiring 👏🏽

[@kittenfawn]

absolutely beautiful

[@gloriamitchell3518]

Bravo!!!

[@corsariocapitao]

Immediately I was into this

[@breakingdragon22]

Great Cesars Ghost just amazing.

[@isoraidepiquero9345]

Beautiful.💘. Miss

[@vidyakakaiya1069]

🧡

[@ChineseHandwriting]

I wish I know how to dance...

[@LostintheTwilightZone]

Take some classes..anyone can dance!! Sing like no one is listening, Dance like no one is watching!

[@ChineseHandwriting]

Ellen Casteel 👍👍

[@Hao-yp7mg]

cool

[@ali.faris.]

شكرا لكم ترجموا لنا الفيديو إلى اللغة العربية

[@ruthspencer7752]

RJ, Amen!

[@pyschologygeek]

Don't live in the past, just learn from it.

[@lohphat]

Fourth, ecarté, arms in third.

[@MrredameghrauiDz]

Traduction arabe plz

[@stepupacademie5808]

Lisa Clarke

[@catherinedeburca4009]

Wow

[@beverlyl.crawford3305]

Yes lovely dance dance w0w bev

[@MrredameghrauiDz]

Arabe

[@CGMaat]

Must dance at the White House when we pass the VOTING RIGHT LAW! CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH !

[@thewiseotter3884]

Second

[@nesrinemamoud4397]

Forth hhh

[@floydblack3312]

Third

[@user-dr3jm3fs1y]

これテッドかよwww

[@aaronschrock8579]

fourth

[@PigsSSBM]

First haha

[@thewiseotter3884]

No u

[@Tia-db9zn]

Im so early no one has liked anyone’s comment. And there’s only 24

[@Kongolox]

No.

[@mikehalstead7328]

Never heard of him...hmmmm

[@wizzenberry]

Skips to random point, instantly mentions black and gay. It’s a no from me

[@donovan3353]

NPC #76 Yet you took the time to comment 🤔. Just say you’re racist and homophobic and go

[@wizzenberry]

Donovan but I’m not racist or homophobic, good luck finding racist people now days, people are over it mang we are all equal

[@emmanuella8976]

I mean we’re not all equal- but what part did you skip to? I watched the whole thing

[@wizzenberry]

Emmanuella A. Yeah I was trying to appeal to his snowflake side, I dunno mang I turned the video off after he said it

[@corsariocapitao]

@@wizzenberry We are over racism? Really? You're either naive, dumb or you've been brainwashed by right-wing propaganda