High-voltage electricity was felt throughout the White House East Room Tuesday evening as dancers sashayed through a cosmos of movements, each more brilliant than the next, competing against each other in a contest of supremacy -- ballet, contemporary, hip-hop -- and all in celebration of American dance.
First Lady Michelle Obama hosted her first series of dance performances as part of an event honoring Alvin Ailey's iconic artistic director, Judith Jameson (pictured left), who will be stepping down after a solid 20-year run.
Not only did the legendary Alvin Ailey dancers perform, but also on hand were members of the Paul Taylor Dance Company, the Washington Ballet, the New York City Ballet and Super Cr3w from MTV's 'America's Best Dance Crew,' who all showered Jamison with heartfelt emotion.
The first lady was accompanied by her daughters and mother. Obama was observed clapping after each performance but literally leaped to her feet after Broadway's Dayton Tavares (top right) strutted his stuff on stage as one of the high-flying Billy Elliots.
The tearjerker portion of the evening was when the Alvin Ailey troupe gave a riveting modern-dance interpretation of a signature piece called 'Revelations,' which was a tribute to Jamison, the company's 67-year-old leader.
After all was said and done, Obama called Jamison "an amazing, phenomenal, fly woman." According to the Associated Press, she went on to say, "Let me tell you, your picture in 'Cry' was the only piece of art in our house."
'Cry,' is a grand and poignant 15-minute solo that made Jamison famous in her dancing years, and an excerpt of it was performed by company member Linda Celeste Sims (pictured in white dress).
Last weekend, Jamison spoke to the AP about being honored at the White House by the Obamas:
"What a rare opportunity, to be invited by your country's first lady to be honored like this," Jamison said. "This event is totally unique. It's so terribly important to recognize this art form and to understand how important it is to the fabric of this country. This will be another clarion call to people: Pay attention to your arts!" said the grand dame of dance.
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31-Aug-10 - The eldest of John McCain's four children, Meghan has now publicly revealed her feelings about Sarah Palin in her new book, 'Dirty Sexy Politics.'
27-Aug-10 - Alveda King's decision to join forces with Fox News host Glenn Beck during his bogus March on Washington is likely one of the most shocking and extraordinary political events in recent months.
25-Aug-10 - According to TMZ, superstar producer Timbaland, whose real name is Timothy Zachery Mosley, was the subject of a manhunt on Tuesday, after his family believed he was in danger of pulling a Fantasia and committing suicide.
24-Aug-10 - Aid workers in the Congo reported that 200 women and baby boys were gang raped over a four-day period not far from a United Nation's peacekeepers base near a mining district.
23-Aug-10 - Brenda Chaney, a nursing assistant, was not allowed to help the woman up, primarily because she'd left instructions stating that only white aid workers should be able to work with her.
23-Aug-10 - The Associated Press is reporting that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is considering hiring translators to help agents understand the language of drug dealers.
Same place as we are? You are the one who is satisfyed enough to see us dancing and singing in the white house. We have also entertained massa. What is so special about that? You are the one who is satisfyed enough to have a half-black face sitting in the oval office who has done jack sh-t for your people. This is enough for you but not enough for those of us who want to see real change for our people.
Come on people wake-up. You sound real ignorant when you expect anyone or anything to change over night. Our president has alot on his plate without his own people being ignorant and not understanding that. What ever the situation a BLACK MAN is going to weather a harder storm. Anyone black not "over" standing that apparently has'nt work towards anything. Obama needs our support, not low infomation people.
I have great memories of Alvin Ailey's dance troupe in the 80s. I love the unision of their movements in the dances, any style. I look for that fluid movement in the youths of today. Prompted me to join an African dance group from Nigeria. So many good thoughts on this one. First Lady has great taste in honoring this great lady, Judith Jameson. Must respect and honor is due to such a great Lady.
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After all was said and done, Obama called Jamison "an amazing, phenomenal, fly woman." According to the Associated Press, she went on to say, "Let me tell you, your picture in 'Cry' was the only piece of art in our house." 
Comments: (16)
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By: stopwhining on 9/09/2010 12:47AM
Because some people are whiners and they live to complain.
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By: rasfanta on 9/09/2010 1:41AM
Same place as we are? You are the one who is satisfyed enough to see us dancing and singing in the white house. We have also entertained massa. What is so special about that? You are the one who is satisfyed enough to have a half-black face sitting in the oval office who has done jack sh-t for your people. This is enough for you but not enough for those of us who want to see real change for our people.
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By: jb on 9/09/2010 9:44AM
We never stick together and that's why we are where we are now, oh but I forgot that's Obama's fault isn't it?
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By: eric on 9/09/2010 12:48AM
and you have duty to stop posting your stupid links on here, now go pull up your pants moron.
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By: Ching Stoddart on 9/10/2010 5:02PM
Come on people wake-up. You sound real ignorant when you expect anyone or anything to change over night. Our president has alot on his plate without his own people being ignorant and not understanding that. What ever the situation a BLACK MAN is going to weather a harder storm. Anyone black not "over" standing that apparently has'nt work towards anything. Obama needs our support, not low infomation people.
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By: sharon white on 9/14/2010 1:46AM
I have great memories of Alvin Ailey's dance troupe in the 80s. I love the unision of their movements in the dances, any style. I look for that fluid movement in the youths of today. Prompted me to join an African dance group from Nigeria. So many good thoughts on this one. First Lady has great taste in honoring this great lady, Judith Jameson. Must respect and honor is due to such a great Lady.
Reply to this Comment | Report This