Celebrating Black History on Broadway: Camille A. Brown

Monday, February 19, 2024 | 6:30 - 8:00pm

Camille A. Brown is a prolific Black choreographer whose work taps into both ancestral and contemporary stories to capture a range of deeply personal experiences and cultural narratives of African American identity.

Brown made her Broadway directorial debut for the Broadway revival of for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf, making her the first Black woman to direct and choreograph a Broadway show since Katherine Dunham in 1955. The production received seven Tony® Award nominations including Best Direction of a Play and Best Choreography. The New York Times proclaimed the production "triumphant."

At The Metropolitan Opera, she became the first Black artist to direct a mainstage production, sharing directorial duties with James Robinson on Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones (2021), which she also choreographed (Bessie Nomination for Outstanding Choreographer).

Brown’s other Broadway credits include Choir Boy (Tony® and Drama Desk nominations for Best Choreography); Tony® Award-winning Once on This Island (Drama Desk, Outer Critics, and Lortel nominations); A Streetcar Named Desire. Learn more about Brown’s extensive performing arts honors, awards, and credits >

Join Chloe O. Davis to learn Camille A. Brown’s choreography from her most recent work Hell’s Kitchen, coming to Broadway this March at The Shubert Theatre. Then, join Voltaire Wade-Greene to learn Brown’s acclaimed choreography from Fire Shut Up in My Bones, returning to the The Metropolitan Opera this April.

The last 30 minutes of the workshop will be held for Q&As with Camille A. Brown.

Dancers of all levels ages 16+ are welcome to participate in the workshop. Participants are asked to arrive early to warm themselves up prior to class. A limited number of observation fees are also available for folks looking to watch the workshop without dancing.

Pricing

Observation Fee: $25

Workshop Participant Fee: $40

Workshop Participant Early Bird: $35 (available until 2/5 at 11:59pm)

How Extension In-Studio Workshops Work:

Sign up for class in advance online.
Arrive at Ailey and check in the Extension desk.
Head to your studio and dance!

Read Our In-Studio Class FAQs >

About Ailey Extension's Black History Month Celebrations

Before he founded Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958, Alvin Ailey graced the stages of Broadway. Mr. Ailey made his Broadway debut after he moved to New York City in Truman Capote’s musical House of Flowers (1954) where he danced alongside his friend and long-time collaborator Carmen da Lavallade. Soon after, Ailey starred in The Carefree Tree (1955), served as a lead dancer alongside Lena Horne in Jamaica (1957), and made his acting debut in Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright (1962) alongside Cicely Tyson. He then went on to choreograph La Strada (1969) starring Bernadette Peters.

Alvin Ailey’s early career on Broadway and passion for theater can be seen today in his works including Blues Suite and For ‘Bird’ - With Love.

As we join in the annual recognition of the achievements of Black people in the United States, we celebrate Ailey’s lasting contribution to the performing arts and the global influence of Black choreographers and artists on Broadway.