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.

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

Early life and education

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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

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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

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

Filmography

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Film

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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

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  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.


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