Roslyn Sampson

Dance Theatre of Harlem

Roslyn Sampson was born ca. 1952 and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. She most likely trained with the Atlanta Civic Ballet, as she performed as a child in their production of The Nutcracker. Arthur Mitchell offered Sampson a scholarship to Dance Theatre of Harlem at age 13, along with her sister Ronda Sampson. While rehearsing and taking class, she attended the Professional Children’s School. By the time she was 21, in 1973, Sampson was considered a “leading dancer” of the company. Her repertoire with the company included Arthur Mitchell’s Holberg Suite, Rhythmetron, Concerto for Jazz Band and Orchestra, and Tones; Louis Johnson’s Wings; Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco; and William Scott’s Every Now and Then. 

Sources:

Dancing her way up, The New York Times
Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Repertory List, Columbia University Libraries
Where Talent Abounds, Ebony June 1974
US sponsors black ballet, The Journal Herald
Harlem dancers, The Courier-Journal
Bonbon Recipe Flies In From Sugar Plum Fairy, The Atlanta Constitution