Virginia Johnson | |
---|---|
Born | 1950 (age 72–73) Washington, D.C. United States |
Education | The Washington School of Ballet |
Occupation(s) | ballet dancer, magazine editor, artistic director |
Career | |
Former groups | Dance Theatre of Harlem |
Alma mater | Fordham University |
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 been a founding member and principal dancer of the company. From 2000 to 2009 she was the editor-in-chief of Pointe .
Johnson was born and raised in Washington, D.C. [1] She began training in classical ballet at the age of three under Therrell Smith, a friend of her mother's who had trained under Mathilde Kschessinska. When she was thirteen years old she was accepted as a scholarship student at The Washington School of Ballet, where she trained under Mary Day and was the only African-American student. She graduated from the school in 1968. [2]
Johnson moved to New York City and enrolled as a dance major at New York University. While a student there, she took a class with Arthur Mitchell and was invited to help start a ballet company with him. She became a founding member of Dance Theatre of Harlem in 1969 and was promoted to the rank of principal dancer. [1] [3] [4] She danced lead roles in Agon , A Streetcar Named Desire , Creole Giselle , Concerto Barocco , Allegro Brillante , Fall River Legend , Swan Lake , Les Biches , and Glen Tetley's Voluntaries. [1] [2] [5]
After a twenty-eight year career with the company, Johnson stepped down 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 until 2009. Johnson then rejoined the Dance Theatre of Harlem as its artistic director. [2] [1] Johnson retired in 2023. [6] [7]
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