Virginia Johnson (born 1950) is an American ballet dancer, choreographer and journalist. She retired in 2023 as the artistic director of Dance Theatre of Harlem, having served as a founding member and principal dancer. From 2000 to 2009 she was the editor-in-chief of Pointe.
Johnson was born and raised in Washington, D.C.[1] Her training in classical ballet began at the age of three under Therrell Smith, a friend of her mother's who had trained under Mathilde Kschessinska. At thirteen years old, Johnson was accepted as a scholarship student by The Washington School of Ballet, where she trained under Mary Day. She was the only African-American student attending the school, and graduated in 1968.[2]
Johnson stepped down from DTH after a twenty-eight year career, and enrolled as a communications student at Fordham University. She was later hired as the inaugural editor-in-chief of Pointe Magazine, and served in that capacity from 2000 - 2009. Johnson later rejoined the Dance Theatre of Harlem as its artistic director,[2][1] before her retirement in 2023.[6][7]
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