Ronda Sampson

Dance Theatre of Harlem

 

At age 15, Ronda Sampson attended a master class led by Arthur Mitchell of Dance Theatre of Harlem. Mitchell offered Sampson a scholarship to his school, an addition to the scholarship offer she already had from Joffrey Ballet. She then became one of the founding members of Dance Theatre of Harlem, performing with the company in their first performance at Jacob’s Pillow. Sampson was featured in PBS’ Great Performances: Dance in America: Dance Theatre of Harlem, a program that included Forces of Rhythm, Bugako, The Beloved, and Dougla.

Her repertoire with the company included Arthur Mitchell’s Rhymetron, the pas de trois in Holberg Suite, and Tones; William Scott’s Every Now and Then; and Geoffrey Holder’s Dougla, among others. Sampson married fellow DTH company member Homer Bryant in 1978. She passed away in 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources: 

Arthur Mitchell’s Dance Theatre of Harlem, Jacob’s Pillow
Rhythmetron Photo, Jacob’s Pillow
Dancing her way up, The New York Times
Dance instructor Bryant changing students’ lives, Chicago Tribune
Great Performances Summary, The Paley Center for Media
The Dance Theatre of Harlem Cultureel Centrum Curacao program
Jackson, La’Toya Princess. “Black Swans Shattering the Glass Ceiling: A Historical Perspective The Evolution of Historically Black Ballet Companies— From Katherine Dunham to Arthur Mitchell.”