JAMES SAMSON IS A NATIVE OF JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI WHERE HE BEGAN HIS DANCE TRAINING AT AGE EIGHT, AND LATER BECAME A COMPETITIVE GYMNAST. HE DECIDED TO CONTINUE HIS STUDIES IN DANCE AT MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY WHERE HE EARNED A B.F.A. ALONG WITH A MINOR IN BUSINESS. HE WENT ON TO STUDY AS A SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT WITH THE DAVID PARSONS NEW ARTS FESTIVAL, THE PILOBOLUS INTENSIVE WORKSHOP, AND THE ALVIN AILEY SUMMER INTENSIVE. MR. SAMSON’S PROFESSIONAL CAREER HAS INCLUDED CHARLESTON BALLET THEATRE, NEW ENGLAND BALLET, CONNECTICUT BALLET, TAKE DANCE AND THE AMY MARSHALL DANCE COMPANY. HE HAS ALSO SET HIS OWN CHOREOGRAPHY ON REGIONAL DANCE COMPANIES; BEING PERFORMED AT THE AMERICAN COLLEGE DANCE FESTIVAL AND REGIONAL DANCE AMERICA. MR. SAMSON RECENTLY RETIRED FROM THE PAUL TAYLOR DANCE COMPANY IN NEW YORK CITY AFTER 17 YEARS