TED Talks

Revelations from a lifetime of dance | Judith Jamison and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized Talk recommendations and more. “Dance can elevate our human experience beyond words,” says Judith Jamison, artistic director emerita of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. In between performances of excerpts from Alvin Ailey’s classic works “Revelations” and “Cry,” Jamison reflects on the enduring…

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“Dance can elevate our human experience beyond words,” says Judith Jamison, artistic director emerita of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. In between performances of excerpts from Alvin Ailey’s classic works “Revelations” and “Cry,” Jamison reflects on the enduring power of dance to transform history into art that thrills audiences around the world. (Performances by Solomon Dumas, Samantha Figgins and Constance Stamatiou)

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26 Comments

  1. Crimson Lotus1122

    November 5, 2019 at 11:31 pm

    What a beautiful display! Bravo on the dancers 👍🏾❤🙋🏾‍♀️

  2. Sandie Beach

    November 5, 2019 at 11:34 pm

    Revelations is always new each time you see it performed. 💜

  3. Randomness 101

    November 5, 2019 at 11:56 pm

    Im so early no one has liked anyone’s comment. And there’s only 24

  4. Susan Doerr

    November 6, 2019 at 12:11 am

    Dance can be a wonderful healthy spiritual experience or not. Thank you for sharing. I dance at home to all types of music from all over the world if I like it.

  5. Christina Suchon

    November 6, 2019 at 12:29 am

    I needed this

  6. Kira Kjear

    November 6, 2019 at 12:31 am

    Dance is how I share my soul with the world. No other form of communication quite like it 👌🏻💕

    • Vierotchka

      November 6, 2019 at 2:12 pm

      Likewise music which is a global language. 🙂

  7. Richard Comeau

    November 6, 2019 at 12:32 am

    @TED thank you for your service. It is invaluable.

  8. Luisa

    November 6, 2019 at 1:04 am

    Immediately I was into this

  9. ali faris

    November 6, 2019 at 1:31 am

    شكرا لكم ترجموا لنا الفيديو إلى اللغة العربية

  10. Lynchie

    November 6, 2019 at 2:02 am

    fantastic performances!

  11. Kimberyote3

    November 6, 2019 at 2:10 am

    Yep. That’s all black people are able to do is dance. They can’t build a civilization. But they CAN dance! Got it! Awesome!

  12. Chinese Handwriting

    November 6, 2019 at 2:14 am

    I wish I know how to dance…

  13. 曾Hao

    November 6, 2019 at 2:26 am

    cool

  14. BRIGHT MINDS

    November 6, 2019 at 2:33 am

    Don’t live in the past, just learn from it.

  15. vidya kakaiya

    November 6, 2019 at 2:54 am

    🧡

  16. Mr Rejaul Karim

    November 6, 2019 at 3:10 am

    Good

  17. Blue Moon

    November 6, 2019 at 5:04 am

    … seeing Judith Jamison decades ago with the Alvin Ailey Dance Troupe in the Houston Jones Hall was one of the most inspiring moments for me as a dancer myself… another favorite was Sea Shadow by Robert Joffrey Ballet Company …

  18. Miss Honeydew

    November 6, 2019 at 6:16 am

    Awesome! Inspiring 👏🏽

  19. Kongolox

    November 6, 2019 at 1:16 pm

    No.

  20. Cynthia Smitherman

    November 6, 2019 at 1:58 pm

    That is one of the best I’ve seen. I love how the dance tells a story

  21. 山河

    November 6, 2019 at 2:49 pm

    Dance show me the energy ,alive and spirit.

  22. あか16

    November 6, 2019 at 3:21 pm

    これテッドかよwww

  23. reda'h MEG

    November 6, 2019 at 8:31 pm

    Traduction arabe plz

  24. reda'h MEG

    November 6, 2019 at 8:31 pm

    Arabe

  25. Annmarie Emmanuel

    November 8, 2019 at 7:06 am

    I miss NYC and the Alvin Ailey Dance Co….Thanks for all those wonderful performances!

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