Virginia Johnson (dancer) facts for kids

Virginia Johnson (born in 1950) is an American ballet dancer and leader. She was a founding member and a main dancer of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Later, she became the artistic director of this famous dance company. She also worked as an editor for a dance magazine.

Early Life and Dance Training

Virginia Johnson grew up in Washington, D.C.. She started learning classical ballet when she was only three years old. Her first teacher was Therrell Smith.

When she was thirteen, Virginia received a special scholarship. This allowed her to study at The Washington School of Ballet. She was the only African-American student there at the time. She worked hard and finished her training in 1968.

A Career in Dance

After finishing ballet school, Virginia moved to New York City. She started studying dance at New York University. While she was a student, she met a famous dancer named Arthur Mitchell. He invited her to help him start a new ballet company.

Founding Dance Theatre of Harlem

In 1969, Virginia Johnson became a founding member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. This was a very important moment in dance history. She quickly became a principal dancer, which is a lead role in a ballet company.

As a principal dancer, Virginia performed in many famous ballets. These included Agon, Creole Giselle, and Swan Lake. She danced lead parts for twenty-eight years with the company.

Editor and Artistic Director

After her long dance career, Virginia decided to try something new. She went to Fordham University to study communications.

Later, she became the first editor-in-chief of Pointe Magazine. This is a magazine all about ballet. She worked there from 2000 to 2009.

In 2009, Virginia Johnson returned to the Dance Theatre of Harlem. This time, she became its artistic director. She led the company until she retired in 2023.