Leslie Segar

Leslie Segar
Born
Jackson Heights, Queens
Other namesBig Lez
Alma materSpringfield College
Occupation(s)Dancer, choreographer, actress, producer, radio host
Websitewww.lesliesegar.com

Leslie Segar also known as "Big Lez", is a dancer, choreographer, actress, radio and television personality, and fitness specialist. She is known as a host of Rap City and as the dancer in the opening credits of Living Single.

Early life and education

Segar is from Jackson Heights, Queens.[1] As a young teen she was a gymnast.[2] She has a bachelor's degree in physiology and sport medicine from Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts.[3][4]

Career

Segar has worked as a dancer, choreographer, on-air radio and television personality, producer, fitness specialist, and actress,[5][6] and is noted for her athletic style[1] and ability to backflip.[2] Her first audition was for the production of Club XXII, a Hip Hop twist of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night produced by Randy Weiner and Rob Hanning and starring Lauryn Hill, MC Lyte, and Wyclef Jean.[2] She has danced with LL Cool J, Bobby Brown, Salt n' Pepa,[3] Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and Michael K. Williams,[7] and was a dancer in the opening credits of Living Single.[8][9][10] She is most known for her time on Rap City[11][8] from 1994 to 1999. Segar has choreographed for Sean Combs on Mary J. Blige's first album.[4]

In 2019, she co-hosted a weekly internet radio show Tha Spin Room.[12]

Personal life

As of 2020, Segar was living in Los Angeles.[13]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1991 House Party 2 Dancer
1992 Malcolm X Dancer
1993 Who's the Man? Sheneequa
1995 New Jersey Drive Angry Resident
1997 Hav Plenty Jane
An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn Herself
1999 The Breaks Janealle
2001 3 A.M. Newstand Woman
2005 The Fabric of a Man Gayle Video
2008 142 John Street Latrice Warren Short
2022 A Miracle Before Christmas Valerie Jenkins
2024 Trope Tracey

References

  1. ^ a b Samuels, Anita M. (1995-04-23). "MAKING IT WORK; The Back Flip in Hip-Hop". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  2. ^ a b c Riddick, Ajak. "Born to Flip". Hannah Magazine.
  3. ^ a b Robertson, Gil L. "Body Rock, Source Magazine".
  4. ^ a b Stories, Local (25 March 2019). "Meet Trailblazer Leslie Segar - Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide". voyagela.com. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  5. ^ "Hip hop artists and activists unite to promote peace". spectrumnews1.com. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  6. ^ Smith, Danyel (2021-10-20). "Classic Black Girl TV Hosts With the Most". The Ringer. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  7. ^ Leight, Elias (2021-10-07). "When Michael K. Williams Ruled New York's Dance Floors". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  8. ^ a b "Is It Just Me, or Is BuzzFeed's Headline About Big Lez Mad Disrespectful?". The Root. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  9. ^ "Quiz: Name that theme song". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  10. ^ Cochrane, Naima (2019-03-10). "Music Sermon: Groove Me – The Women Behind The Early '90s Dance Legacy". VIBE.com. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  11. ^ Allah, Sha Be (11 August 2020). "Today in Hip-Hop History: Syndicated Hip Hop Video Show 'Rap City' Premiered on BET 31 Years Ago". The Source. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Leslie 'Big Lez' Segar is a jane-of-all-trades | Post News Group". www.postnewsgroup.com. 2019-04-15. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  13. ^ Gant, Essence (12 March 2018). "We Found The Girl Who Danced To "Living Single's" Theme Song And Sis Looks Good As Hell". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on 2021-05-13. Retrieved 2022-03-25.