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Camille A BrownAmerican dancer, choreographer, director and teacher
Date of Birth: 11.12.1979
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Camille A. Brown: An American Dance Icon
- Early Life and Training
- Camille A. Brown & Dancers
- Choreography
- Philanthropy and Social Impact
- Awards and Recognition
Camille A. Brown: An American Dance Icon
Camille A. Brown is an American dancer, choreographer, director, and educator who has left an indelible mark on the dance world. As the founder and artistic director of Camille A. Brown & Dancers, she has created groundbreaking work that explores themes of identity, race, and culture through the medium of dance.
Early Life and Training
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Brown's passion for dance began at a young age. She trained at the Bernice Johnson Cultural Center and the Carolyn Devor Dance Center. Later, she attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts while simultaneously studying at the Ailey School on scholarship.
Brown earned her BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and went on to dance with Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, Ailey II, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Camille A. Brown & Dancers
In 2006, Brown founded her own company, Camille A. Brown & Dancers. Known for its unique physical vocabulary and focus on storytelling, the company has received critical acclaim for works such as "ink," "Mr. TOL E. RAncE," "Black Girl: Linguistic Play," and "City of Rain." The company has toured both nationally and internationally, performing at prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center, New York University Abu Dhabi, and the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival.
Choreography
Brown's musical background as a clarinetist influences her choreography, which often uses the musical score as a narrative. She has choreographed for numerous commercial and theatrical projects, including Broadway shows like "Choir Boy" and "Once on This Island," as well as concert productions like "Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert!"
Dance companies that have commissioned her work include the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Philadanco, Urban Bush Women, and Ballet Memphis. Her pieces have been performed at the Kennedy Center, Apollo Theater, and Madison Square Garden.
Philanthropy and Social Impact
Beyond her artistic career, Brown is dedicated to advancing cultural equity in the dance world. In 2014, she founded The Gathering, an annual open forum for women of color in the arts, and BLACK GIRL SPECTRUM (BGS), an outreach initiative that empowers young black girls through dance.
In 2018, Brown established Every Body Move (EBM), an umbrella organization for all of her community engagement initiatives. EBM provides creative development opportunities for participants of all abilities, backgrounds, and ages through workshops, summer intensives, creative gatherings, educational events, and public activations.
Awards and Recognition
Brown has received numerous awards for her work, including:Five Princess Grace Awards
Tony Award nomination for Best Choreography for "Choir Boy"
TED Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
Doris Duke Performing Artist Award
Obie Award
Dance Magazine Award
Jay Franke and David Herro Fellowship
Bessie Award
Brown has been featured on the covers of "Dance Magazine" (April 2018) and "Dance Teacher Magazine" (August 2015) and has spoken at TED conferences in Vancouver, Canada, and at TEDxBeaconStreet and TEDxEstée Lauder.
