Anne Benna Sims facts for kids

Anne Benna Sims is a famous American ballerina who made history in the dance world. She was the first African-American female dancer to get a contract with the American Ballet Theatre. She also became the first African-American soloist in the company's long history. Anne Benna Sims started her professional dance journey with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in 1972. Later, she joined the Geneva Opera Ballet and then the Frankfurt Opera Ballet, where she became a principal dancer. Her career shows how dedication and talent can break barriers in classical ballet.

Early Life and Training

Anne Benna Sims grew up in a home that loved art. Her father was an architect, and her mother loved opera. This meant Anne and her siblings were exposed to many different kinds of art from a young age. When she was ten years old, Anne started taking ballet classes at the Long Island Institute of Music in Queens. Her teacher was Helene Vinson.

During her summers, Anne continued to train at the ABT school with teachers like Michael Maule and Patricia Wilde. She also studied at the New Dance Group Studio. After finishing Bishop Reilly High School in 1970, Anne was accepted into a special training program at Harkness House. There, she learned from David Howard and Maria Vegh. She also explored other dance styles like jazz and Spanish dance. Anne's sister, Lowery Stokes Sims, also became successful as a museum curator.

Professional Dance Journey

Anne Benna Sims began her professional career in 1972 with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. She danced in the corps de ballet, which is the group of dancers who perform together. At one point, she was told that there wasn't much of a future for Black dancers in ballet.

Meeting a Mentor

In 1972, Anne met Alfonso Catá, a very important person in her career. After watching her dance, Cata told her, "I hate your dancing. You are a big girl who moves too small." But then, he offered her a contract with the Geneva Ballet. Cata became her mentor and a good friend. He helped her learn to dance with more power and presence.

Rising Through the Ranks

When Cata became the director of the Frankfurt Ballet in Germany, he invited Anne to join as a soloist. Just one year later, she was promoted to principal dancer. This is a very high rank in a ballet company. She spent four years with the Frankfurt Ballet and earned a lot of praise. She performed in ballets by famous choreographers like George Balanchine and Cata. A German dance critic even called her the "Judith Jamison of ballet," comparing her to another legendary dancer.

Anne performed in many different types of roles. She danced in Balanchine's Concerto Barocco and Cata's Ragtime. These roles showed her wide range as a dancer.

Return to the United States

In 1977, Anne returned to the United States. She accepted a principal dancer contract with the Eglevsky Ballet Company. In May 1978, she performed in a successful show called Ballet on Broadway at the Beacon Theatre.

Soon after, Anne auditioned for the famous American Ballet Theatre (ABT). She was offered a contract to join the corps de ballet. In 1978, Anne Benna Sims officially joined ABT. This was a historic moment because she was the first African-American female to hold a contract with the company. She also became the first African-American soloist in ABT's history.

Even though she started in the corps de ballet at ABT, Anne soon got a principal role. She played Cybele/Medusa in Antony Tudor's Undertow. This was a very challenging and dramatic ballet. She was also part of the first cast for the company's premiere of Paul Taylor's Airs.