Contributions to the Industry
Alicia Keys musical Camille A. Brown choreographed and the year
What is Hell's Kitchen, 2024?
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The date Camille A. Brown was born
What is December 11, 1979?
This choreographer and dancer frequently collaborates with Camille A. Brown and is known for blending house dance with contemporary styles
Who is Maleek Washington?
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• Frequent collaborator with Camille A. Brown
• Known for blending house dance with contemporary styles
• Brings a grounded, groove-based movement quality to her work
• Often contributes to the social dance elements in her choreography
• Helps connect traditional forms with modern movement vocabularies
The two dance institutions where Brown trained collegiately and professionally
What is University of North Carolina School of the Arts and The Ailey School?
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• She mastered the fundamentals of modern dance through intense daily training at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA).
• At The Ailey School, she developed a style that combines athletic movement with storytelling and African American culture.
• The technical expertise and creative soul she gained from these schools helped her become a successful Broadway choreographer.
In 2020, Brown choreographed and worked with director George C. Wolfe on this Netflix film
What is Ma Rainy’s Black Bottom?
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• Created originally by August Wilson
• Explored themes of racism in the music & entertainment industry
• Focuses on the influence of African American culture with the blues
Comedic Amazon Prime series Brown choreographed in 2022
What is Harlem?
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• Comedy series written by Tracy Oliver
• Follows a group of girlfriends in Harlem and the evolving phases of their careers, relationships, and big city dreams.
Famous Arts High School Camille A. Brown attended
What is Fiorello LaGuardia High School?
This R&B superstar worked with Camille A. Brown, expanding her choreography into the music industry
Who is Alicia Keys?
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• R&B artist who collaborated with Brown
• Helped bring Brown’s choreography into the music industry
• Worked with her on projects like Broadway’s Hell’s Kitchen
• Their collaboration expands Brown’s reach beyond concert dance and theater
• Combines storytelling through both music and movement
This dancer and actor from Fame inspired Brown to attend the UNCSA after sharing her own rejection story
Who is Debbie Allen?
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• Debbie Allen served as a "powerhouse" role model, showing Camille A. Brown that a Black woman could excel as a dancer, choreographer, and director.
• Seeing Allen’s success gave Brown a blueprint for her own career and the confidence to overcome insecurities regarding her body type.
• Allen’s influence encouraged Brown to embrace her unique style and "claim her space" in the industry rather than trying to fit a traditional mold.
This initiative was created by Brown to bring Black female choreographers together in a shared creative space
What is The Gathering?
Company in which Brown became the first black artist there to direct a mainstage production with Fire Shut Up in My Bones
What is The Metropolitan Opera?
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• Premiered in 2022
• The New York Times “Best Dance of 2021” list
• Brought back again the 2024 spring season
The place and age Brown started dancing at
What is Jamaica Queens, New York at the age of three?
This performer, also known as “Hurrikane,” is one of Camille A. Brown’s collaborators, recognized for dynamic movement and performance energy
Who is Alain 'Hurrikane' Lauture?
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• Performer known for high-energy, dynamic movement
• Nicknamed “Hurrikane” for his powerful performance style
• Collaborates with Brown on stage and in company work
• Adds intensity, athleticism, and strong stage presence
• Helps bring her choreography to life through performance quality
These cultural traditions form the foundation of Brown’s dance roots and movement style
What is West African and Afro-Caribbean?
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• Camille A. Brown integrates West African and Afro-Caribbean dance into her work to tell stories centered on Black history and identity.
• She blends traditional rhythmic footwork and soulful movements with modern dance and Broadway styles to keep these traditions evolving.
• By incorporating "social dance," she honors her ancestors and demonstrates how African roots continue to influence and live within contemporary American culture.
This term describes Brown’s choreographic style, blending 1930s jazz, tap, West African traditions, and modern social dances
What is Jambalaya?
In 2022, Brown became the first Black woman to direct and choreograph a Broadway play in over 65 years with this play
What is for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf?
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• Katherine Dunham, 1955
• Received seven Tony Award nominations.
• Blends poetry, music, and dance to explore the lived experiences, struggles, and resilience of Black women.
• Considered a vital, foundational piece of theater, often described as a celebration of Black womanhood and survival.
Year and company in which Brown received her first choreographic commission
What is Hubbard Street II in 2002?
This Broadway performer and vocalist has collaborated with Camille A. Brown and is also known for his solo music career
Who is Mykal Kilgore?
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• Broadway performer and vocalist
• Collaborated with Camille A. Brown in theater settings
• Also has a solo music career outside of Broadway
• Known for strong vocal expression and emotional performance
• Enhances the connection between movement, music, and storytelling
These three teachers were influential to Brown during her time at The Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center
Who are Carolyn DeVore, Brian Hawthorn, and Roger C. Jeffrey?
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• Carolyn DeVore created a nurturing "second home" at the DeVore Dance Center, where Brown first learned to take dance seriously and believe in her potential.
• Mentors like Brian Hawthorne and Roger C. Jeffrey pushed her technically and artistically, helping her find her unique voice and the confidence to turn pro.
The influence of Brown's choreography in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
What is African American diaspora and the Roaring Twenties?
Brown’s dance company, founded in 2006, that centers Black identity and storytelling through movement
What is Camille A. Brown & Dancers?
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Two prestigious awards given to Brown in 2016, recognizing her contributions to dance and choreography
What are the Princess Grace Statue Award and the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award?
This dancer and collaborator has worked closely with Camille A. Brown and is recognized for his contributions to contemporary and theatrical dance
Who is Juel D. Lane?
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• Longtime collaborator with Camille A. Brown
• Dancer and choreographer in contemporary and theatrical dance
• Has worked with her company and on major productions
• Known for versatility across different dance styles
• Plays a key role in developing and performing her choreographic work
These forms of art and expression, ranging from 1930s jazz to hip-hop, along with history, current events, and everyday life, serve as major inspirations for Brown’s choreography
What are theater, books, film, and music?
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• Camille A. Brown draws from theater, books, films, and music to transform her choreography into lived-in stories.
• She uses literature and movies as research tools to translate Black history into powerful, physical movement.
• By blending theater with diverse musical styles like jazz and hip-hop, she creates a "total performance" that balances modern energy with deep tradition.
The heaviest dance influence of Camille A. Brown & Dancers' choreography
What is African Social Dancing?