Famous artist and choreographer Judith Jamison, who devoted much of her dance career to the groundbreaking Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, has died.

The company announced that Jamison died on Saturday after a short illness. announced in his statement on social media. He was 81 years old, the company announced. “We remember and are grateful for the art, humanity, and incredible light that inspired us all.”

Black dance pioneers Debbie Allen and Misty Copeland paid tribute to Jamison on social media over the weekend. “I owe you so much for seeing me and making me feel like I could go all the way,” Allen wrote. instagram.

She added: “I will always honor you and remember all the wonderful moments we shared. It was a blessing to be in your orbit.”

American Ballet Theater principal dancer Copeland in question Jamison’s contributions to dance left a “lasting mark on our world”; He praised the choreographer for his legacy, which he said will “continue to shape the future of dance.” Dance Theater of Harlem mourned “icon and legend.”

Jamison began dancing for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1965, a year after meeting the company’s namesake at a fruitless television audition. Ailey was Jamison’s “spiritual walker, my mentor and my support.” Under his tutelage, she left her mark in the dance world with her grace, long limbs and magnetic presence. Most notably, she performed Ailey’s 1971 solo “Cry”; where she famously folded, lay down, and hanged herself wearing a white long-sleeved leotard and a matching long ruffle skirt.

“In my interpretation, she represented women overcoming the hardships of slavery, the pain of losing loved ones, overcoming extraordinary depression and adversity,” Jamison wrote in her autobiography, “The Dancing Soul.” “He found his way out of a world full of pain and trouble and achieved victory.”

An undated photo of Judith Jamison performing Alvin Ailey’s “Cry.”

(Jack Mitchell/Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation and Smithsonian Institution, via Associated Press)

Jamison blossomed during her 15 years as a company dancer. She frequently appeared as a guest artist with companies around the world and performed unforgettable pieces, including 1976’s “Pas de Duke” with ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Although he left the company in 1980, Jamison continued to choreograph with support from Ailey. In 1984, he choreographed his first dance for the troupe, “Divining”. He brought his work to Washington Ballet and collaborated with choreographers Maurice Béjart and Jennifer Muller/The Works.

The Broadway world also enjoyed the talents of Jamison, who starred in the 1981 revue of Duke Ellington’s “Sophisticated Ladies.” The original lineup also included influential tap star Gregory Hines, Tony winner Hinton Battle and singer Phyllis Hyman.

In 1988, Jamison started his own company in his hometown of Philadelphia, but returned to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater a year later. Ailey viewed Jamison as his successor and appointed him artistic director of the company in 1989. died of blood disorder In December 1989. He was 58 years old.

“’I’m not well,’ he said; You know I’m sick and I want you to take over the company,'” Jamison recalled. Times in 2010. “I said, ‘Sure, sure Alvin.’ That’s it. “The decision to do this was immediate.”

During his tenure, Jamison has led the Ailey label to grow considerably, achieving a remarkable level of stability through extensive touring. Jamison headlined two events in South Africa and a 50-city global tour commemorating the company’s 50th anniversary, according to the company.

Jamison also brought Ailey’s “Revelations” (which impressed her as a woman holding a white umbrella) to the White House in 2010. At the time, First Lady Michelle Obama praised Jamison as “an incredible, extraordinary, ‘flying’ woman.”

“I am a continuation of what Alvin started. And what I wanted to do was expand it – expand it and make sure that absolutely no one forgets who this man was, what he did for the world of dance – what an area of ​​intelligence and beauty and a different perspective, Jamison told The Times in 2010. “It has opened up a great path for us to pursue our individual and collective goals.”

Born on May 19, 1943, Jamison retired as artistic director in 2011. He selected choreographer Robert Battle as his successor and served as the company’s artistic director emeritus until his death.

Throughout his career, Jamison was open about the discrimination he and other Black label members faced early on. he said Times in 2019“We couldn’t get proper food because it wasn’t served to us,” he said, adding that he was once served “sour milk and cold coffee.” Jamison said black dancers still face discrimination “even if it happens in a more subtle way.”

“It is always very difficult to accurately portray our history as African Americans and Black dancers,” she said in 2019. “That’s one of the important things about celebrating Alvin Ailey’s 60th anniversary, because we’re still here. What did he have in mind?

The Associated Press contributed to this report.