Patricia Brown

For the last 22 years, Patricia Brown has been an active member of the Twin Cities arts community as a dancer, instructor, performer and choreographer. She is an African-based movement instructor whose fusion style is rooted in dance of West Africa and other regions, the Caribbean, and the Americas. She is a teaching artist who works with students of all ages, in a wide variety of settings, including primary and secondary schools, juvenile detention facilities, summer programs, dance studios, and community centers. Additionally, she works with dance group, choirs, and with organizations such as Arts-Us, Penumbra Theatre Company’s Summer Institute, and the VocalEssence WITNESS School Program. 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 2004 College of Continuing Education Distinguished Teaching Award, and the 2007 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 2013 Sage Award in the category of “Outstanding Dance Educator,” and in 2015, Arts-Us presented her with the Legacy Arts Recognition Award for excellence, leadership and legacy in and through the arts.

Other awards include Patricia appearing in the 2013 Ivey Award winning show, “Between the Worlds,” by In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, which was also named one the top ten arts events of the year. She also created the choreography for the 2015 Ivey Award winning show for outstanding ensemble, “Marcus or the Secret of Sweet.”

Her performance credits include Children’s Theatre Company, O’Shaughnessy Auditorium, JSB TEKBOX, and Patrick’s Cabaret, where she premiered her one-woman show, “Here I Stand,” as part of the “People of Color Performance Cabaret.” In addition, Patricia was the founder, director, choreographer, and costumer for “The Spirit of Ashe’ Performing Arts Company, and a member of the Burundi African Dance Company, The Circle of Choice Ensemble, The Dancers and Drummers of Langa, Nimely Pan African Dance Company, and a guest performer with Sundance Productions Multiple Performing Arts Company.

Her choreography has been seen on area stages including the Walker Arts Center, Southern Theater, Macalester College, and the Minnesota Historical Society. As a movement coach, Patricia has worked with theaters such as Pillsbury House Theatre, Penumbra Theatre Company, SteppingStone Theatre, and the History Theatre.

Her national credits include Jazz at Lincoln Center, NY, Guthrie Theater, MN, Lied Center for Performing Arts, NE, University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club, MI, Lincoln Memorial, DC, St. John the Divine, NY, and the Center for Puppetry Arts, GA.