Camille A. Brown is a dancer, choreographer, director and dance educator. She is the Founder & Artistic Director of Camille A. Brown & Dancers, and has congruently choreographed commissioned pieces for dance companies, Broadway shows, and universities. Brown started her career as a dancer in Ronald K. Brown’s Evidence, A Dance Company, and was a guest artist with Rennie Harris Puremovement, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (2008 and 2011). Brown has choreographed major Broadway shows such as Choir Boy, Once on This Island and Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert![2] that aired on NBC. Brown also teaches dance and gives lectures to audiences at various universities such as Long Island University, Barnard College and ACDFA (University of Akron), among others.[3]
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Camille A. Brown & Dancers 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.[4]
Brown has received awards and accolades including being a five-time Princess Grace Award recipient,[5] Tony Award Nominee for best Choreography for Choir Boy,[6] TED Fellow,[7] Guggenheim Fellowship,[8] Doris Duke Performing Artist Award,[9] Obie Award,[10] Dance Magazine Award Honoree,[11] USA Jay Franke & David Herro Fellow,[12][13] and a Bessie Award. She has been featured on the cover of Dance Magazine (April 2018) and Dance Teacher Magazine (August 2015).
Brown has performed at the 2018 and 2015 TED Conference in Vancouver, Canada and given talks at both TEDxBeaconStreet and TEDx Estée Lauder Companies.
Camille A. Brown is the Choreographer for Roundabout Theater’s Toni Stone,[14] Much Ado About Nothing- directed by Kenny Leon,[15] Once The Musical, and will make her Metropolitan Opera debut as Choreographer for Porgy & Bess.[16] Brown made her directorial debut with the Broadway revival of for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf, and Fire Shut Up In My Bones for The Metropolitan Opera (co-directed with James Robinson).
Ms. Brown made her Broadway Directorial Debut for the Broadway revival of for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf making her the first Black woman to Direct and Choreograph a Broadway show in 67 years. The production received 7 Tony Award nominations including Best Direction of a Play and Best Choreography, 3 Outer Critics Circle Award nominations including Outstanding Director of a Play and Outstanding Choreography, 3 Drama League Award nominations including Outstanding Direction of a Play, 3 Chita Rivera Award nominations including Outstanding Choreography in a Broadway Show, and 2 Drama Desk Award nominations and The New York Times proclaimed the production "Triumphant" and "a Broadway homecoming celebration that you will not want to miss."
Brown's company, Camille A. Brown & Dancers, debuted in 2006. Reviewing their debut, The New York Times said Brown's "personal physical style, with its focused bursts of energy and frozen positions that explode into motion, colors her group works very differently."[17]
Camille A. Brown & Dancers 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. 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.[18]
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.[19]
In 2019, she was nominated for a TONY for Best Choreography.[20]
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.[21]
On June 4, 2016, BGS had its inaugural symposium with the theme “Social Dance for Social Change” at Dr. Barbara Ann Teer’s National Black Theatre in Harlem, NY.[22]
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.[23]
Broadway productions
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Off-Broadway productions
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Other productions
- 2002 Awakened in Slumber (Hubbard Street 2)
- 2004 Demetia’s Serenity (Camille A. Brown)
- 2005 More Time Than Anybody (Camille A. Brown & Dancers)
- 2005 Shelter of Presence (Camille A. Brown)
- 2005 Nahum (Ailey II)
- 2006 Afro Blue (Reflections Dance Company)
- 2006 New Second Line (Reflections Dance Company)
- 2006 More Time Than Anybody (Camille A. Brown & Dancers)
- 2007 The Evolution of a Secured Feminine (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater)
- 2007 Here We Go…Again?! (Urban Bush Women)
- 2007 The Groove To Nobody’s Business (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater)
- 2008 Saverio Palatella’s line – Wholegarment 3D (New York Fashion Week)
- 2008 Un Festin Divin (Ballet Memphis)
- 2008 Matchstick (Camille A. Brown & Dancers)
- 2009 The Groove To Nobody’s Business (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater)
- 2009 The Blues On Beale (Ballet Memphis)
- 2009 Good Times, Ha! (The Youth American Grand Prix)
- 2009 Those Who See Light (Philadelphia Dance Company – Philadanco!)
- 2010 Our Honeymoon Is Over (Dallas Black Dance Theater)
- 2010 Been There, Done That (Camille A. Brown & Dancers)
- 2010 City of Rain (Camille A. Brown & Dancers)
- 2010 By Way of East (Kyle Abraham & Camille A. Brown)
- 2010 The Evolution of a Secured Feminine (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater)
- 2012 Strum (Toni Pierce Sands and Uri Sands Dance (TU Dance))
- 2012 One Second Past the Future (Camille A. Brown & Dancers)
- 2012 Memories (Complexions Contemporary Ballet)
- 2012 Bind (The Juilliard School)
- 2012 Pins & Needles: FUREE (Director Ken Rus Schmoll)
- 2012 HOUSE (Director Saheem Ali)
- 2012 Fortress of Solitude (Director Daniel Aukin)
- 2012 A Streetcar Named Desire (Director Emily Mann)
- 2013 William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale (Director Rebecca Taichman)
- 2013 MR. TOL. E RAncE (Camille A. Brown & Dancers)
- 2014 The Box: A Black Comedy (Director: Seth Bockley)
- 2014 tick, tick...BOOM! (Director: Oliver Butler)
- 2014 GALOIS (Director: Victor Maog)
- 2014 The Fortress of Solitude (The Public Theater)
- 2015 Blood Quilt (Director: Kamilah Forbes)
- 2015 Stagger Lee (Director: Patricia McGregor)
- 2015 Cabin in the Sky (musical) (Director: Ruben Santiago-Hudson)
- 2015 BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play (Camille A. Brown & Dancers)
- 2016 BELLA: An American Tall Tale (Director: Robert O'Hara)
- 2016 NIKE/Air Jordan Web Commercial with Russell Westbrook
- 2017 ink (Camille A. Brown & Dancers)
- 2018 Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert! on NBC
- 2019 Toni Stone (Roundabout Theatre, Director: Pam MacKinnon)
- 2019 Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare in the Park, Director: Kenny Leon)
- 2019 Once (Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, Director: J. Michael Zygo)
- 2019 Porgy & Bess (The Metropolitan Opera, Director: James Robinson)
- 2019 for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf ( The Public Theater, Director: Leah C. Gardiner)
- 2020 Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
- 2021 Angry, Raucous and Shamelessly Gorgeous (Spotlight On Plays)
- 2021 Fire Shut Up in My Bones (The Metropolitan Opera)
- 2021 Toni Stone (Arena Stage)
- 2022 Harlem (Amazon Prime Video)
- 2023 Hell's Kitchen (The Public Theater)
More information Award, Year ...
Award |
Year |
Work |
Category |
Result |
Ref. |
Antonyo Awards |
2020 |
Best Choreography |
for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf |
Won |
[24] |
Best Quarantine Content |
Nominated |
2022 |
Best Direction (Broadway) |
Nominated |
[25] |
Won |
Audelco Award |
2017 |
Best Choreography |
Bella: An American Tall Tale |
Won |
[26] |
2019 |
Much Ado About Nothing |
Won |
[27] |
Toni Stone |
Nominated |
Bessie Awards |
2011 |
The Evolution of A Secured Feminine |
Outstanding Performance |
Nominated |
[28] |
2014 |
Mr. Tolerance |
Won |
[29] |
2016 |
BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play |
Nominated |
[30] |
2022 |
Fire Shut Up in My Bones |
Nominated |
[31] |
Black Theatre Alliance Awards |
2006 |
The Groove To Nobody’s Business |
Best Choreography |
Nominated |
|
Chita Rivera Awards for Dance and Choreography |
2018 |
Outstanding Choreographer |
Once On This Island |
Nominated |
[32] |
2022 |
Outstanding Choreography in a Broadway Show |
for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf |
Nominated |
[33] |
2024 |
Hell's Kitchen |
Pending |
[34] |
Callaway Award |
2020 |
SDCF Award |
Much Ado About Nothing |
Finalist |
[35] |
Doris Duke Performing Artist Award |
2015 |
Herself |
Honor |
Won |
Drama Desk Award |
2018 |
Outstanding Choreography |
Once On This Island |
Nominated |
[36] |
2019 |
Choir Boy |
Nominated |
[37] |
2020 |
for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf |
Nominated |
[38] |
2024 |
Hell's Kitchen |
Pending |
[39] |
Drama League Award |
2022 |
Outstanding Direction of a Play |
for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf |
Nominated |
[40] |
2024 |
Outstanding Production of a Musical |
Hell's Kitchen |
Pending |
[41][42] |
International Association of Blacks in Dance |
2013 |
Herself |
The Founder’s Award |
Won |
|
Lucille Lortel Awards |
2015 |
Outstanding Choreographer |
Fortress of Solitude |
Nominated |
2018 |
Bella: An American Tall Tale |
Nominated |
[43] |
2020 |
Toni Stone |
Nominated |
[44] |
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf |
Nominated |
2024 |
Hell's Kitchen |
Pending |
[45] |
Mariam McGlone Emerging Choreographer Awards |
2012 |
Herself |
College Women and Culture Award |
Won |
|
Obie Award |
2020 |
Sustained Excellence in Choreography |
Herself |
Won |
[46] |
Outer Critics Circle Award |
2018 |
Outstanding Choreographer |
Once On This Island |
Nominated |
[47] |
2022 |
for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf |
Nominated |
[48] |
Outstanding Director of a Play |
Nominated |
Princess Grace Awards |
2006 |
Urban Bush Women |
Next Generation Award - Choreography |
Won |
|
2016 |
Choreographic Mentorship Co-Commission Award |
Herself |
Won |
|
Statue Award |
Won |
Tony Award |
2019 |
Best Choreography |
Choir Boy |
Nominated |
[49] |
2022 |
Best Direction of a Play |
for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf |
Nominated |
[50] |
Best Choreography |
Nominated |
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- 1997 - The Helen Tamiris Award – Performance
- 1997 - Young Artist’s Award – Performance
- 1997 - Presidential Scholar of the Arts Award – Dance Performance; Young Artist’s Award – Performance; The Helen Tamiris Award – Performance
- 2013 - Princess Grace Works in Progress Residency
- 2015 - USA Jay Franke & David Herro Fellow
- 2015 - TED Fellow
- 2016 - Jacob's Pillow Dance Award
- 2016 - Guggenheim Fellowship
- 2017 - Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellow
- 2017 - Irma P. Hall Black Theater Nomination (BELLA: An American Tall Tale)
- 2017 - Black Woman Scholar Warrior Award (Montclair State University)
- 2018 - Cover Girl of Dance Magazine (April)[51]
- 2019 - Choreography Mentorship Co-Commission (CMCC) Award (Princess Grace Award)
- 2020 - Dance Magazine Award Honoree[52]
- 2020 - Emerson Collective Fellow [53]
- 2021 - ISPA Distinguished Artist Award[54]
- 2022- Kennedy Center Next 50[55]
- 2024- Dance Lab New York Honoree[56]
"Toni Stone". www.roundabouttheatre.org. Retrieved 2022-02-17. Brown, Camille (2013). "The Company". Camille A. Brown & Dancers. Archived from the original on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2013-07-23. Forbes - First Black Woman Choreographer Nominated for a Tony in over two decades: Camille Brown, Brittany Chambers June 03, 2019
Brown, Camille (2013). "Engagement". Camille A. Brown & Dancers. Retrieved 2016-11-01. Brown, Camille (2018). "Every Body Move". Camille A. Brown & Dancers. Retrieved 2018-05-25. "Nominees". Drama Desk Awards. Retrieved 2022-02-18.