Monday on the NewsHour: Judith Jamison and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

From its beginning 51 years ago, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has been a celebration of African-American culture and black dancers and choreographers who found few opportunities elsewhere to work.

On a recent night at the City Center Theater in New York, the celebration continued, now focused on the woman who has long been the face of the company: Judith Jamison — dancer, choreographer and artistic director — who’s just announced she’s stepping down in 2011.

Below you can watch more of the interview with Jamison, performance pieces and a 1990 segment about her by former NewsHour correspondent Charlayne Hunter-Gault:

More videos after the jump…