JUDITH JAMISON, the legendary dance choreographer and artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, is set to be honoured at the White House today (7th September 2010). MICHELLE OBAMA will host the tribute that will include a 90-minute afternoon workshop led by a number of invited dancers, reports the Associated Press.
Jamison joined the theatre as a dancer in 1965 and began leading the group in 1989 - however, she has recently announced her retirement and will bring her 46-year career to an end in 2011. The event is set to mark the Obama administration's first celebration of dance, and will include performances in ballet, modern and contemporary, hip hop, and Broadway. The dancers selected to take part will represent the Alvin Ailey Theatre, the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Broadway's 'Billy Elliot the Musical', The Washington Ballet, Super Cr3w and the New York City Ballet.
The event is set to place in the largest room within the White House - the historic 'East Room'. Mainly used for entertainment purposes, the room contains a unique Steinway & Sons grand piano which was partly designed in 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
