Camille A. Brown

American dancer

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  • Dancer
  • Choreographer
  • Director
  • College professor
Years active2000–presentAwardsBessie Award (2016); Drama League Award (2024);
Princess Grace Award (2006, 2013, 2016, 2016);
Tony Award Nominee;
Drama Desk Award Nominee;
Websitecamilleabrown.org

Camille A. Brown is an American dancer, choreographer, director, and dance educator. Four-time Tony Awards nominees, she started her career working as professional dancer with Ronald K. Brown's company in the early 2000s.[1] In 2006 she founded her own dance company, the Camille A. Brown & Dancers, producing severals dance productions, winning a Princess Grace Awards and a Bessie Award.[2][3]

Since 2010s Brown worked on stage musical productions, including Robert O'Hara's Bella: An American Tall Tale, Michael Arden's Once On This Island and Kenny Leon's Much Ado About Nothing,[4] winning two Audelco Award and being nominated at the Drama Desk Awards and Lucille Lortel Awards.[5] For her choreography direction on 2019 Choir Boy, she was nominated at the Tony Award for Best Choreography.[6][7]

In 2022 Brown made her musical direction debout with for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf,[8] which was prised by critics and received seven nominations at the 75th Tony Awards, including for Best Direction of a Play. In 2023 she choreographed Alicia Keys's mucial Hell's Kitchen, for wich she won a Drama League Award, a Chita Rivera Award and received her fourth Tony Award nomination.[9]

During her career Brown also worked on television special and films, including Emmy Awards winner Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.[10][11] Brown also teaches dance and gives lectures to audiences at various universities such as Long Island University, Barnard College and ACDFA (University of Akron).[12]

Brown has received awards and accolades including being a five-time Princess Grace Award recipient, Tony Award Nominee for best Choreography for Choir Boy, TED Fellow, Guggenheim Fellowship, Doris Duke Performing Artist Award, Obie Award, Dance Magazine Award Honoree, USA Jay Franke & David Herro Fellow, and a Bessie Award. She has been featured on the cover of Dance Magazine (April 2018) and Dance Teacher Magazine (August 2015).[13][14]

Life and career

Camille A. Brown in 2005.

Camille A. Brown was born and raised in the neighborhood of Jamaica, Queens in New York City. Since she was a child she studied dance and performing arts at the local Bernice Johnson Dance Center and at the Carolyn DeVore Dance Center.[15] She continued her studing in high school at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts while simultaneously attending The Ailey School on scholarship.[16] Brown earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.[17][18]

After her graduation, Brown danced as professional dancer of Ronald K. Brown’s Evidence, A Dance Company from 2001 to 2007, and was a guest artist with Rennie Harris Puremovement and at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.[19][15] Between 2004 and 2005 she worked for two concert dance with Urban Bush Women.[20] In 2006 Brown founded her company Camille A. Brown & Dancers.[20] The group has performed works such as ink, Bessie Award winning Mr. TOL E. RAncE, Bessie Award nominated BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play, City of Rain, Good & Grown, and The Groove to Nobody's Business, among others.[21][22] The company has performed these works in national and international venues, including The Kennedy Center, NYU Abu Dhabi, The Joyce Theater, New York City Center's Fall for Dance Festival, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Bates Dance Festival, The Yard, White Bird, REDCAT, and Belfast Festival at Queen's, among others.[23]

Informed by her music background as a clarinetist, Brown creates choreography that utilizes musical composition as storytelling. Brown has choreographed for various commercial and theater projects including Choir Boy, Once On This Island, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert!, NIKE/Air Jordan, BELLA: An American Tall Tale (Director: Kirsten Childs), Cabin in the Sky (musical) (Director: Ruben Santiago-Hudson), and Broadway's A Streetcar Named Desire. Dance companies that have commissioned her work include: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Philadanco, Urban Bush Women, Complexions, Ailey II, and Ballet Memphis. Her works have been performed at The Kennedy Center, Apollo Theatre, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Madison Square Garden, and New York City Center. She also was the choreographer for Saverio Palatella's line, Wholegarment 3D, for New York Fashion Week in 2008.[24][25][26]

In 2018 Brown choreographed Choir Boy at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre by Trip Cullman,[27] for which she was nominated at the Tony Award for Best Choreography.[6][7]

In 2019 Brown debouted at The Public Theater as Off-Broadway musical director and choreographer with production of Ntozake Shange's for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf.[28] In 2021 was annunced that the production was moved to Broadway Booth Theatre, becoming the first black woman to direct and choreograph a Broadway production in six decades.[29][30] The musical was prised by critics, being nominated at the Drama Desk Award, Drama League Award, Lucille Lortel Awards and received seven nominations at the 75th Tony Awards, including for Best Direction of a Play and Best Choreography.[31]

In 2023 she was involved as choreographer for Alicia Keys's Off-Broadway mucial Hell's Kitchen.[32] In April 2024 the production move to Broadway at the Shubert Theatre,[33] being critical acclaimed and earning thirteen nominations at the 77th Tony Awards, including for Best Choreography for Brown.[34] She also won her first Drama League Award and Chita Rivera Award.

Philanthropy and community engagement

In 2014, Brown founded two initiatives: The Gathering, an annual open forum for intergenerational Black female artists to advocate for greater cultural equity and acknowledgement in the dance world; and BLACK GIRL SPECTRUM (BGS), a community engagement initiative.[35]

On June 4, 2016, BGS had its inaugural symposium with the theme “Social Dance for Social Change” at Barbara Ann Teer’s National Black Theatre in Harlem, NY.[36]

In 2018, Brown created a community engagement platform, Every Body Move (EBM), to serve as the umbrella for all initiatives that bring the artistic rigor of Camille A. Brown & Dancers’ beyond the stage and into communities. Every Body Move works to cultivate the creative capacity of its participants through workshops, summer intensives, artistic encounters, educational experiences, public actions, and celebrations for people of diverse abilities, identities, and ages. The initiative includes: Black Girl Spectrum (BGS); Black Men Moving (BMM); The Gathering; Creative Action Lab; Every Body Move Celebration.[37]

In 2022 Brown partnered with Google Arts & Culture on a project for Black History Month exploring the story of Black history and culture through dance where "ink" was highlighted and filmed at Brooklyn Historical Society.[38]

Theatre and concert dance choreographed works

Broadway productions

Title Years Location Notes
A Streetcar Named Desire 2012 Broadhurst Theatre Stage musical revival;

directed by Emily Mann, music by Terence Blanchard

Once On This Island 2017 Circle in the Square Theatre Stage musical;

directed by Michael Arden, music by Stephen Flaherty

Choir Boy 2019 Samuel J. Friedman Theatre Stage musical revival;

directed by Trip Cullman, music by Jason Michael Webb and Fitz Patton

for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf 2022 Booth Theatre Stage musical;

directed by Camille A. Brown, music by Deah Love Harriott

Hell's Kitchen 2024 Shubert Theatre Original stage musical;

directed by Michael Greif, music by Alicia Keys

Off-Broadway productions

Title Years Location Notes
Soul Doctor 2012 New York Theatre Workshop Original stage musical;

directed by Daniel Wise, music by Seth Farber

The Fortress of Solitude 2014 The Joseph Papp Public Theater Stage musical;

directed by Daniel Aukin, music by Kimberly Grigsby

Bella: An American Tall Tale 2017 Delacorte Theater Original stage musical;

directed by Robert O'Hara, music by Kirsten Childs

This Ain't No Disco 2018 Linda Gross Theater Original stage musical;

directed by Darko Tresnjak, music by Stephen Trask and Pedro Yanowitz

Much Ado About Nothing 2019 Delacorte Theater Stage musical;

directed by Kenny Leon, music by Jessica Paz

Toni Stone Laura Pels Theatre Original stage musical;

directed by Pam MacKinnon, music by Broken Chord

for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf The Public Theater Stage musical;

directed by Leah C. Gardiner, music by Deah Love Harriott

Hamlet 2023 Delacorte Theater Stage musical;

directed by Kenny Leon, music by Jason Michael Webb

Hell's Kitchen The Public Theater Original stage musical;

directed by Michael Greif, music by Alicia Keys

Other theatre and concert dance notable productions

Title Years Location Notes
Awakened in Slumber 2002-2023 U.S. National Tour Concert dance by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago;
Shelter of Presence 2004 Concert dance by Urban Bush Women;
Nahum 2005 Alliance of Resident Theatres (New York City) Concert dance by Alvin Ailey American Dance;
New Second Line 2006 Concert dance by Reflections Dance Company;
The Groove To Nobody’s Business 2007 Alliance of Resident Theatres (New York City) Concert dance by Alvin Ailey American Dance;[39]
2023

Film and television choreographed works

Awards and nominations

Award Year Category Work/Nominee Result Ref.
Antonyo Awards 2020 Best Choreography for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf Won [40]
Best Quarantine Content Nominated
2022 Best Direction (Broadway) Nominated [41]
Won
Audelco Award 2017 Best Choreography Bella: An American Tall Tale Won [42]
2019 Much Ado About Nothing Won [43]
Toni Stone Nominated
Bessie Awards 2011 Outstanding Performance The Evolution of A Secured Feminine Nominated [44]
2014 Mr. Tolerance Won [45]
2016 BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play Nominated [46]
2022 Fire Shut Up in My Bones Nominated [47]
Black Theatre Alliance Awards 2006 Best Choreography The Groove To Nobody’s Business Nominated
Chita Rivera Awards for Dance and Choreography 2018 Outstanding Choreographer Once On This Island Nominated [48]
2022 Outstanding Choreography in a Broadway Show for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf Nominated [49]
2024 Hell's Kitchen Won [50]
Callaway Award 2020 SDCF Award Much Ado About Nothing Finalist [51]
Doris Duke Performing Artist Award 2015 Sperical Honor Herself Won
Drama Desk Award 2018 Outstanding Choreography Once On This Island Nominated [52]
2019 Choir Boy Nominated [53]
2020 for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf Nominated [54]
2024 Hell's Kitchen Pending [55]
Drama League Award 2022 Outstanding Direction of a Play for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf Nominated [56]
2024 Outstanding Production of a Musical Hell's Kitchen Won [57][58]
International Association of Blacks in Dance 2013 The Founder’s Award Herself Won
Lucille Lortel Awards 2015 Outstanding Choreographer Fortress of Solitude Nominated
2018 Bella: An American Tall Tale Nominated [59]
2020 Toni Stone Nominated [60]
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf Nominated
2024 Hell's Kitchen Pending [61]
Mariam McGlone Emerging Choreographer Awards 2012 College Women and Culture Award Herself Won
Obie Award 2020 Sustained Excellence in Choreography Herself Won [62]
Outer Critics Circle Award 2018 Outstanding Choreographer Once On This Island Nominated [63]
2022 for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf Nominated [64]
Outstanding Director of a Play Nominated
Princess Grace Awards 2006 Choreography Award Here We Go…Again?! Won
2016 Choreographic Mentorship Co-Commission Award Herself Won
Statue Award Won
Tony Award 2019 Best Choreography Choir Boy Nominated [65]
2022 Best Direction of a Play for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf Nominated [66]
Best Choreography Nominated
2024 Best Choreography Hell's Kitchen Pending [67]

Other awards and honors

References

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  3. ^ Downes, Lara (August 14, 2021). "Identity And Dance: Camille A. Brown Talks With Lara Downes". National Public Radio. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  4. ^ Tornow, Justin (November 7, 2018). "Honesty in Every Choice: The Evolving, Social, Individual Dance of Camille A. Brown". INDY Week. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  5. ^ Asantewaa, Eva Yaa (December 4, 2020). "Dance Magazine Award Honoree: Camille A. Brown". Dance Magazine. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Chambers, Brittany (June 3, 2019). "The First Black Woman Choreographer Nominated For A Tony In Over Two Decades: Camille A. Brown". Forbes. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Evans, Greg (June 6, 2019). "Choreographer Camille A. Brown Brought The Dance To 'Choir Boy' And Representation To Broadway – Tony Watch Q&A". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  8. ^ Brunner, Jeryl (August 22, 2021). "For The First Time In 65 Years, Camille A. Brown Will Be The First Black Woman To Direct And Choreograph A Broadway Show". Forbes. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
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