Judith Jamison, in her final year as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater artistic director, will receive the NYC Handel Medallion, the highest official honor given by the City of New York, on November 8 in a special ceremony.

Judith Jamison receives accolades for her dedication to the arts. (Photo courtesy Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater)

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will present the medallion at Alice Tully Hall during the Mayor’s Awards for Arts and Culture program, featuring tribute performances and remarks. Medallion recipients are selected for their outstanding contributions to the city’s intellectual and cultural life. Past recipients include George Balanchine, Aaron Copland, Duke Ellington, Leonard Bernstein, John Lennon, Leontyne Price, and Alvin Ailey. Jamison was a star dancer with the Ailey company before serving as artistic director for more than two decades.

Also, on November 17, Jamison will receive the 2010 National Award for Citizen Diplomacy for extraordinary work increasing American citizen engagement in international affairs and fostering cross-cultural understanding, along with actor Robert Redford and five other recipients.

For more information, visit www.alvinailey.org.

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