Samson was born on 6 May 1951 in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, daughter of Vice-Admiral (Retd.) Benjamin Abraham Samson and Laila Samson. When Samson was nine years of age, her father sent her to Kalakshetra to learn Indian classical dance and music under the founder, Rukmini Devi Arundale.After completing her B.A., Samson continued to learn haratanatyam at Kalakshetra.

Starting her career as a Bharathanatyam soloist, Samson taught at Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, Delhi, and Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Delhi. Over the years she has performed across India and abroad including Europe, Africa and America.

Samson has received the Padma Shri (1990), the Sanskriti, Nritya Choodamani, Kalaimamani (2005) given by Government of Tamil Nadu, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1999,2000) for contributions to Bharatanatyam