Virginia Johnson (dancer)

Johnson was born and raised in Washington, D.C.^[1] 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.^[2]

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,^[1][3][4] 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.^[1][2][5]

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,^[2][1] before her retirement in 2023.^[6][7]