Camille A. Brown: Storytelling Through Dance

Originally published in Indy Week’s A Year In Superlatives, Best of 2018 Issue: January 2, 2019

photo courtesy of Duke Performances / Camille A. Brown

Camille A. Brown dances a multitude of stories. The choreographer, whose ongoing trilogy of Duke Performances shows this season began with ink in November, is a natural griot, using the rhythmic movements of her feet and the poetic sway of her body to write a narrative of Black identity. Ink is a visceral performance of love, resilience, and liberation, packed with history, cultural cues, vernacular, and stories from social dances in the African diaspora. As Brown explained in the show’s program notes, “It’s about using the power of the past and present to propel us into the future.” This thread is evident in Brown’s ability to preserve and honor dances from previous generations while connecting them to those of younger generations. While traveling the world to teach and perform on prestigious stages, Brown always remains connected to the communities that she visits through workshops and her Every Body Move initiative, in which everyone is encouraged to freely move and dance as they see fit. As Brown continues her residency at Duke in 2019, she will continue to curate cultural and creative classes for Durham residents. Her company’s next performance, BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play, is coming at the start of February.