Legendary Black Women Choreographers Hold African Dance Classes at the White House

Legendary choreographers Judith Jamison, Debbie Allen, Virginia Johnson and Fatima Robinson visited the White House Monday where they held master classes for 51 girls in African dance as well as contemporary dance and ballet.

Miss Debbie Allen led the African dance classes with the help of Sarah Anindo Marshall.

Final rehearsals are underway for our presentation for First Lady @michelleobama! These young people have been phenomenal today! #DanceAtTheWhiteHouse #BlackHistoryMonth

A video posted by Debbie Allen (@therealdebbieallen) on Feb 8, 2016 at 11:17am PST

Chile, we are DANCING at The @WhiteHouse this morning!!!!!!😘

A video posted by Debbie Allen (@therealdebbieallen) on Feb 8, 2016 at 8:16am PST

Honey!!!!! Things are heating up at the @WhiteHouse!!! #DanceAtTheWhiteHouse #BlackHiatoryMonth

A video posted by Debbie Allen (@therealdebbieallen) on Feb 8, 2016 at 8:00am PST

Yes Debbie......@therealdebbieallen

A video posted by FatimaRobinson (@fatima_noir) on Feb 8, 2016 at 2:51pm PST

They also taught traditional ballet.

As part of the @whitehouse's #BlackHistoryMonth celebration, First Lady @michelleobama highlights the contributions African-American women have made to dance by welcoming 51 local Washington, D.C. students to work with iconic leaders in dance, including Alvin Ailey Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison, Debbie Allen, Dance Theatre of Harlem Artistic Director Virginia Johnson, and hip-hop choreographer Fatima Robinson. The event will be livestreamed here at 4:15pm: https://www.whitehouse.gov/live Video by @robertgarland #Dancetheatreofharlem #DanceAtTheWhiteHouse #DanceAtTheWhiteHouse #BlackHistoryMonth

A video posted by Dance Theatre of Harlem (@dancetheatreofharlem) on Feb 8, 2016 at 10:58am PST

Michelle Obama showed up to offer the girls encouragement

And then #FLOTUS arrived...🙆🏽 We had an amazing panel discussion with @michelleobama and Dance legends Virginia Johnson, Judith Jameson, Debbie Allen and Fatima Robbins. The take away: believe in yourself and dream big #danceatthewhitehouse #black history month

A video posted by Dance Theatre of Harlem (@dancetheatreofharlem) on Feb 8, 2016 at 12:09pm PST

Happening right now at the @whitehouse you can watch the performance live!! The event it's been livestreamed here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/live #Dancetheatreofharlem

A video posted by Dance Theatre of Harlem (@dancetheatreofharlem) on Feb 8, 2016 at 1:36pm PST

SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images


SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images


SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

The women took some iconic selfies.

Instagram/FatimaRobinson


Instagram/TheRealDebbieAllen


Instagram/TheRealDebbieAllen

The girls ended the day with performances.


SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

Double tap for the 51 talented, young dancers from Washington, D.C. who came to the @WhiteHouse today to take their place on the stage. #BlackHistoryMonth #DanceAtTheWhiteHouse

A photo posted by First Lady Michelle Obama (@michelleobama) on Feb 8, 2016 at 6:44pm PST