VocalEssence – Philip Brunelle, artistic director

Patricia Brown has been active as a dancer, instructor, performer and choreographer in the Twin Cities for the past fourteen years. She is an African-based movement instructor, whose style is primarily rooted in and influenced by dance of West Africa, but not limited to that region or continent. Incorporating various forms of artistic expression, her classes are a dynamic representation of the connection of mind, creative energy and body in motion. In addition to teaching through the VocalEssence WITNESS program, Patricia works throughout various school systems, organizations, the community and theaters such as Penumbra Theatre Company, the Penumbra Summer Institute, Pillsbury House Theater and their Chicago Ave. Project, Children's Theatre Company, Stepping Stone Theatre, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater and Ten Thousand Things Theater Company. She also teaches at Macalester College and the University of Minnesota where she received the 2007 Century Council Diverse Community Award, recognizing affiliate faculty for communal efforts with their work through performance and collaboration. In addition, she received the 2004 College of Continuing Education Distinguished Teaching Award.

Workshop Description
Using the music of Billy Taylor and the speeches of Dr. King, students will learn a choreographed dance as well as create their own movement in response to the music and words.

To Prepare Your Students

• Read a grade level-appropriate biography or a speech written by Dr. Martin Luther King
• Listen to It's a Matter of Pride on the WITNESS Companion CD (track 6).
• Additional preparation will be discussed at the planning meeting, based on the goals of the teachers

Please Note
A wood floor and a large space is preferred for this workshop. The school should plan to provide a CD player or sound system if available.