- Pearl Primus (1919-1994), Trinidadian-American dancer, choreographer, and anthropologist, whose work helped establish the importance of African American dance in United States culture. Primus was born in Trinidad and moved with her family to the United States as a young child. In 1940 she graduated from Hunter College with a degree in biology and premedical studies. Primus planned to become a ...www.theatredance.com/d_primus.html