Virginia Johnson (dancer)

Virginia Johnson (born 1950) is an American ballet dancer, choreographer, and journalist. She currently serves as the artistic director of Dance Theatre of Harlem and is a founding member and former principal dancer of the company. From 2000 to 2009 she was the editor-in-chief of Pointe.

Virginia Johnson
Born1950
Washington, D.C.
United States
EducationThe Washington School of Ballet
Occupationballet dancer, magazine editor, artistic director
Former groupsDance Theatre of Harlem
Alma materFordham University

Early life

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]

Career

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 retired 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 she left in 2009 to become the artistic director of Dance Theatre of Harlem.[2][1]

References
  1. "Meet Virginia Johnson: From Prima Ballerina to Dance Theatre of Harlem Artistic Director". Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Mar 14, 2017. Retrieved Apr 13, 2019.
  2. "Virginia Johnson – Artistic Director, Dance Theatre of Harlem". DanceTabs. Sep 17, 2013. Retrieved Apr 13, 2019.
  3. "Pointe". Pointe. Retrieved Apr 13, 2019.
  4. Kaufman, Sarah (2011-03-18). "Virginia Johnson, choreographing Dance Theatre of Harlem's rebirth". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-04-13.
  5. "Virginia Johnson |". Retrieved Apr 13, 2019.
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