Virginia Johnson (dancer)

Virginia Johnson
Born	1950 (age 74–75) Washington, D.C. United States
Education	The Washington School of Ballet
Occupation(s)	ballet dancer, magazine editor, artistic director
Career
Former groups	Dance Theatre of Harlem
Alma mater	Fordham University

Virginia Johnson (born 1950) is an American ballet dancer, choreographer and journalist. She retired in 2023 as the artistic director of Dance Theatre of Harlem, having served as a founding member and principal dancer. From 2000 to 2009 she was the editor-in-chief of Pointe.

Early life

Johnson was born and raised in Washington, D.C. Her training in classical ballet began at the age of three under Therrell Smith, a friend of her mother's who had trained under Mathilde Kschessinska. At thirteen years old, Johnson was accepted as a scholarship student by The Washington School of Ballet, where she trained under Mary Day. She was the only African-American student attending the school, and graduated in 1968.

Career

Johnson moved to New York City and attended New York University as a dance major. In a class taught by Arthur Mitchell, she was presented with the opportunity to co-found a new ballet company with him, leading to the creation of Dance Theatre of Harlem (1969). As its principal dancer, she performed lead roles including Agon, A Streetcar Named Desire, Creole Giselle, Concerto Barocco, Allegro Brillante, Fall River Legend, Swan Lake, Les Biches, and Glen Tetley's Voluntaries.

Johnson stepped down from DTH after a twenty-eight year career, 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 - 2009. Johnson later rejoined the Dance Theatre of Harlem as its artistic director, before her retirement in 2023.