Sheldon B. Hoskins

Actor, Director, Education Director, Theatre Founder

Born in Baltimore, and brought up in Philadelphia, Sheldon began dancing as a child. He attended Columbia University in New York and became involved with the Lafayette Players. He moved to Baltimore to play a lead in a production of "The Little Whopper" and was the first Black dancer with the Baltimore Ballet.

Sheldon taught classes in "Art, Dancing, Music & Costume Designing, Day and Evening • Private and Class Lessons".

He founded the Negro Little Theatre and was the director of the "Youth Little Theatre", parent of the Arena Players (see Irvin Turner). He became "America's first Black Ballet Master" and performed as the "dancing boxer" in "Carmen Jones" (1943 & 1946).