Theo Jamison

(1953-2019)

Theodore H. Jamison (Theo’) is program director for the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts, formerly known as the Katherine Dunham Center for the Performing Arts. Theo received a bachelor of science degree in Theater and Fine Arts/Dance from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and is certified by Katherine Dunham to teach the Dunham Technique. He has also served as Dunham’s demonstrator for more than 15 years Theo’ has been trained by original members of the Katherine Dunham Dance Company, Lucille Ellis, Tommy Gomez, Archie Savage, Lenwood Morris, Pearl Reynolds, Vanoye Aikens, Wilburt Bradley, Norman Davis and Lavinia Williams.  


His honors include the Outstanding Young Men of America, Outstanding Achievement Award (Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.) and Credos Artist Award-Mexico, D.F. Theo’ has choreographed and performed with Les Ballet Bacolou in Petionville, Haiti; Eugene Joseph Dance Company Port-of-Spain, Trinidad; and Joyce Ballet of Sao Paulo, Brasil.  Theo’ served as a guest artist for the following: Darlene Blackburn Dance Company in Chicago, Ill; Joseph Holmes Dance Company in Chicago, Muntu in Chicago, Uhuru Dance Company in Nashville, Tenn.; American College Dance Festival in Texas; Katherine Dunham Seminar in East St. Louis, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble in Denver, Colo; Phila Danco in Philadelphia, Lula Washington Dance Company in Los Angeles, Fundisha Dance Company in St. Louis, Colorado Springs University Fine Arts Program, Tennessee State University Theater Program, Lincoln University Dance Troupe in Jefferson City and the Contemporary Dance In America Black-Influence and Expressions Conference in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti.


Theo’ taught and performed at the International Association of Black Dance Conference in Washington, D.C. He was also guest artist at Carnegie Hall in New York for the Katherine Dunham Gala and Faces of Love Gitano Productions and the St. Louis Municipal Opera. He performed at the St. Louis Black Repertory Company as a singer, dancer, choreographer and actor and has performed and choreographed at an International Dance Festival in Vienna, Austria. He also performed and choreographed for television in Mexico City, Mexico and performed the one-man show, “Black Songs and Dances of America” in Vienna, Australia.


He gives thanks to his father Jeremiah Brunell Jamison, Sr. and his mother Mary Katherine Smith-Jamison for their never-ending support and to God for the blessing of talent bestowed upon him.