Dancer/Choreographer
For 22 years, Patricia Brown has been an active member of the Twin Cities arts community as a dancer, instructor, choreographer, and performer. She is an African-based movement instructor whose fusion style is rooted in dance of West Africa, other African regions, the Caribbean, and Americas. Incorporating various forms of artistic expression, her classes are a dynamic representation connecting the mind, creative energy, and body in motion. In addition to being a teaching artist with the VocalEssence WITNESS School Program, she teaches students of all ages in various settings, including primary and secondary schools, juvenile detention facilities, summer arts programs, and creates choreography for dance groups, and choirs. Patricia is an adjunct faculty member in the Theatre Arts and Dance departments at both Macalester College, and the University of Minnesota, where she received the College of Continuing Education Distinguished Teaching Award, and the Century Council Diverse Community Award. In 2013 Penumbra Summer Institute created the Patricia A. Brown scholarship in her honor. She was also nominated for a Sage Award for “Outstanding Dance Educator.” In 2015, Arts-Us presented her with the Legacy Arts Recognition Award.
Her choreography, and performances have been seen on area stages, including the Walker Arts Center, O’Shaughnessy Auditorium, Minnesota Historical Society, Patrick’s Cabaret, Macalester College, and Penumbra, Southern, Pillsbury House, Children’s, SteppingStone, History, and In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theaters. National credits include Jazz at Lincoln Center, Guthrie Theater, Lied Center for Performing Arts, University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club, Lincoln Memorial, St. John the Divine, and Center for Puppetry Arts.