Anne Benna Sims collection

1960-1986

Anne Benna Sims (born January 9, 1953, in New York City) is an American ballet dancer, recognized as the first African-American woman to be contracted by the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), later becoming a soloist. She began her dance training at age ten at the Long Island Institute of Music in Queens, New York with Helene Vinson. After high school, Sims continued her studies at the Harkness School of Ballet, training under David Howard and Maria Vegh.

In 1971, Sims joined Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, where she danced in the corps de ballet and with a newly formed second company, Les Compagnons de la Danse. She performed in works by choreographers such as Maurice Béjart, Eric Hyrst, Brian Macdonald, and Fernand Nault. After a year in Montreal, Sims was recruited by Alfonso Cata to join the Geneva Ballet, which was under the artistic direction of George Balanchine. While primarily part of the corps de ballet, she also danced soloist roles in the ballets Symphony in C, Concerto Barocco, Raymonda Variations, and Coppélia.

In 1973, Cata became the director of the newly formed Frankfurt Opera Ballet and brought Sims with him as a soloist, later promoting her to principal. She performed in roles such as Ragtime, Sleeping Beauty, and Allegro Brillante. After four years in Frankfurt, Sims returned to the United States in 1977 to join the Eglevsky Ballet Company as a principal, where she danced in The Nutcracker and Giselle.

In 1978, Sims was featured in Ballet on Broadway, presented by Dustin Hoffman and Alfonso Cata, performing in pieces choreographed by Cata. Following this, she joined ABT, becoming the first African-American woman to hold a contract with the company. At ABT, Sims performed as a soloist in roles such as Cybele in Antony Tudor's Undertow, as well as in Paul Taylor's Airs and Tudor's Dark Elegies.

From 1981 to 1982, Sims danced with the Cleveland Ballet, performing in ballets such as Laura's Women, Serenade, and Pas de Dix. In addition to her performing career, she has taught dance at the Long Island Institute of Music, Eglevsky Ballet, Cleveland Ballet School, and Manhattan Plaza.