Camille A. Brown

Camille A. Brown
Born (1979-12-11) December 11, 1979 (age 44)
New York City, New York, U.S.
EducationUniversity of North Carolina School of the Arts (BFA)
Occupations
  • Dancer
  • Choreographer
  • Director
  • College professor
Years active2000–present
AwardsBessie 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 debut with for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf,[8] which was praised 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 which 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]

  1. ^ Kaplan, Janice (May 27, 2022). "Camille Brown on Movement, Power and Creative Identity: 'Creating Safe Spaces to Share Our Stories'". Ms. Magazine. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  2. ^ Kourlas, Gia (October 20, 2022). "Camille A. Brown's Latest Dance Challenge? To Have Fun". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  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. ^ 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. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Brittani, Samuel (March 5, 2024). "Camille A. Brown Is Bringing '90s New York Back to Broadway in Hell's Kitchen". Playbill. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  10. ^ "Interview: Camille A. Brown On Creating The Moves For NBC's 'Jesus Christ Superstar'". Awardsdaily. April 1, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  11. ^ Kennedy, Mark (May 26, 2022). "Pioneering Camille A. Brown creates a Broadway rainbow". AP News. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  12. ^ Brown, Camille (2016). "Camille A. Brown". Princess Grace Foundation - USA. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  13. ^ Greenstein, Colette (March 9, 2020). "Choreographer Camille A. Brown talks with the Banner". Bay State Banner. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  14. ^ Wingenroth, Lauren (June 5, 2018). "Let's Talk About How Camille A. Brown Didn't Get a Tony Nom". Dance Magazine. Retrieved May 21, 2024.