Auditorium Theatre 2018-19 Issue 3 Alvin Ailey

founding member of Battleworks Dance Company. In May 2006, Mr. Roberts was named DanceMagazine’s “On theRise” dancer. He performed several roles in Julie Taymor’s film Across the Universe and the original opera Grendel . Mr. Roberts joined the Company in 2009. Follow him on Instagram @samuellee.me . KANJI SEGAWA (Kanagawa, Japan) began his modern dance training with his mother, Erika Akoh, and studied ballet with Kan Horiuchi and Ju Horiuchi in Tokyo, Japan. In 1997, Mr. Segawa came to the US under the Japanese Government Artist Fellowship to train at The Ailey School. Mr. Segawa was a member of Ailey II from 2000-2002 and Robert Battle’s Battleworks Dance Company from 2002-2010. Mr. Segawa worked extensively with choreographer Mark Morris from 2004-2011, repeatedly appearing in Mr. Morris’ various productions with Mark Morris Dance Group, including as a principal dancer in John Adams’ Nixon in China at The Metropolitan Opera. In addition, Mr. Segawa has assisted and worked closely with choreographer Jessica Lang since 1999. Mr. Segawa joined the Company in 2011. GLENN ALLEN SIMS (Long Branch, NJ) began classical dance training at the Academy of Dance Arts in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, and was a scholarship student to The Ailey School’s Summer Intensive. Mr. Sims attended The Juilliard School under Benjamin Harkarvy. In 2004 Mr. Sims was the youngest person to be inducted into the Long Branch High School’s Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. He has been featured on several network television programs, including BET Honors, Dancing with the Stars, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and So You Think You Can Dance . Mr. Sims is a master teacher, certified Zena Rommett Floor-Barre instructor, and certified pilates mat instructor. He has performed as an international guest artist for galas in Rome, Italy, and Mexico City, Mexico, as well as the White House Dance Series and for the king of Morocco. Mr. Sims was featured on the cover of and wrote a featured guest blog for Dance Magazine. He has originated featured roles by Carmen de Lavallade, Judith Jamison, Lynn Taylor Corbett, Mauro Bigonzetti, Rennie Harris, and Ronald K. Brown. Mr. Sims joined the Company in 1997. LINDACELESTESIMS (Bronx, NY) began training at Ballet Hispanico School of Dance and graduated from LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts. Ms. Sims has received the 2016 InspiraciónAward from Ballet Hispánico, has won Outstanding Performance at the 2014 New York Dance and Performance "Bessie" Award, and, most recently, she received the 2017 Dance Magazine Award. Ms. Sims has been featured on the cover of Dance Magazine and on So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with the Stars, The Ellen whichtimesheperformedatTheJoyceTheater, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, and Dancers Responding to AIDS’ annual events Dance from the Heart and The Fire Island Dance Festival. Mrs. Pereyra-Alemwas an apprentice for Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, A Dance Company, and has performed with Lula Washington Dance Theater, Nathan Trice, and Roger C. Jeffrey. She assisted Matthew Rushing with his ballet Uptown for the Ailey company in 2009. Mrs. Pereyra-Alem joined the Company in 2011. JESSICA AMBER PINKETT (Baltimore, MD) began her dance training at Baltimore Dance Tech under the direction of Stephanie Powell. Ms. Pinkett is a proud graduate from George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology. She is a bronze medal recipient from the NAACP ACT- SO competition in Dance. Ms. Pinkett has worked with choreographers including Linda-Denise Fisher- Harrell, Kirven Douthit-Boyd, Ray Mercer, Darrell Grand Moultrie, and others. She has performed as a guest artist with The Black Iris Project and was a member of Ailey II. From Towson University, she graduated with honors and earned a BFA in dance performance and choreography. She concluded her second season withAiley II in 2018 and began touring with Jussie Smollett, under the creative direction of Frank Gatson. Ms. Pinkett joined the company in fall of 2018. Instagram: @jessica.a.pinkett JAMAR ROBERTS (Miami, FL) graduated from the NewWorld School of the Arts. He trained at the Dance Empire of Miami, where he continues to teach, and as a fellowship student at TheAiley School.Mr. Roberts was a member of Ailey II and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Dance Magazine featured Mr. Roberts as one of “25 to Watch” in 2007 and on the cover in 2013. He performed at The White House in 2010, and as a guest star on So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with the Stars, and The Ellen Degeneres Show . In 2015, he made hisAiley II choreographic debut with his work Gêmeos , set to the music ofAfrobeat star Fela Kuti. His first work for the Company, Members Don’t Get Weary , premiered in 2017. Mr. Roberts won Outstanding Performer at the prestigious NewYork Dance and Performance “Bessie” Awards and was a guest star with The Royal Ballet in London. He first joined the Company in 2002. SAMUELLEE ROBERTS (Quakertown, PA) began his dance training under the direction of Kathleen Johnston and attended The Juilliard School. He performed in the first international show of Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular in Mexico City and danced with the New York cast from 1999–2004. Mr. Roberts performed during the award ceremony at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, worked with Corbin Dances and Keigwin + Company, and was a WHO'S WHO IN THE COMPANY