Sue Samuels' career spans over five decades and her artistic impact resonates throughout many communities worldwide. Sue made dance history by establishing JoJo’s Dance Factory together with the late JoJo Smith, which later became NYC's Broadway Dance Center. In 2009, she founded Jazz Roots Dance to preserve and promote original repertoire from JoJo’s Dance Factory while continuing to develop her own choreographic voice that is rooted in classic jazz. The dancer, choreographer and long-time educator has received countless awards for her many contributions to both the Jazz and Tap dance world, from the Dance Teacher Award (2018), the Legacy Award (2021) from Dancers Over 40, and a special Proclamation from the City Council of New York (2022). Sue previously served on the Bessie Awards (NY Dance & Performance Awards) committee, and most recently participated in the Lincoln Center Oral History Project to help document family legacy. In addition to ongoing work on the JoJo Smith Legacy Project, she continues to teach, mentor, advise, consult, and choreograph for events around the world. Follow Jazz Roots Company on Instagram at @jazzrootsdancecompany.
The College of Arts