Art News

Judith Jamison Legacy Dances into the Smithsonian

WASHINGTON, DC.- In a special ceremony tonight at The Kennedy Center, Judith Jamison, artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, donated her costume from the 1975 ballet, The Mooche, to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The dazzling red dress, designed by Randy Barcelo, was worn by Jamison during the ballet created as part of Alvin Ailey’s legendary collaboration with Duke Ellington. The costume will be on view at The Kennedy Center Opera House during the AAADT’s performances in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2-7, which marks Jamison’s 20th anniversary as artistic director. “The addition of this dress allows us to pay tribute to the artistry and contribution to American culture by Alvin Ailey and Judith Jamison,” said Brent D. Glass, director of the museum. “This donation allows us to tell a more complete story about dance in America and complements existing collections of distinguished danc