The American modern dance world of the mid-twentieth century was shaped by a generation of artists who brought new expressive depth to concert dance, particularly through the work of companies rooted in African American cultural experience. Judith Jamison, born on May 10, 1943, in Philadelphia, emerged from that world to become one of its defining presences as a dancer, choreographer, and artistic director.

Jamison attended Fisk University and The University of the Arts before joining the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1965, with which she performed until 1980. During that period she served as a muse to the company's founder, Alvin Ailey. She later returned to the organization in a leadership capacity, serving as its artistic director from 1989 to 2011, and subsequently holding the title of artistic director emerita. Her career thus spanned both the stage and the administrative structures that sustain a major dance institution, encompassing work as a performer, choreographer, and organizational leader across several decades.

The honors Jamison received reflect sustained recognition across multiple sectors of the arts and public life. She was the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, the National Medal of Arts, the Handel Medallion, a Bessie Award, an Emmy Award, the Golden Plate Award, and The BET Honors. She was also named to the Time 100 list. Jamison died on November 9, 2024, in Manhattan. The Library of Congress authorized form of her name is Jamison, Judith.