#professorbrown

[mocha-rebirth]

LMU. Year 1. Yesterday, I taught my last class of the semester, and of the academic year. I don’t yet have words… Some words from those I’m in service to: “You were such a wonderful professor and I really appreciate how you pushed us to do our best work but at the same time you were very understanding. I also really appreciate how you shared your own work with us and let us know when you were feeling nervous or vulnerable about sharing so that we felt comfortable doing the same. You created such a welcoming and safe environment and I truly enjoyed this class.” “Thank you for all the wisdom and advice you imparted to me…I wish I could have taken class with you for longer, because I've learned so much from you in such a short period of time.” “I want to applaud you once again for your outstanding job as an instructor this semester.” #grateful #ProfessorBrown #LMU #EngagedPedagogy #bellhooks 📸: @seanblackofficial https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc8h213vOZ5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mocha-rebirth]

LMU. Year 1. Yesterday, I taught my last class of the semester and of the academic year. I don’t yet have words… Some words from those I’m in service to: You were such a wonderful professor and I really appreciate how you pushed us to do our best work but at the same time you were very understanding. I also really appreciate how you shared your own work with us and let us know when you were feeling nervous or vulnerable about sharing so that we felt comfortable doing the same. You created such a welcoming and safe environment and I truly enjoyed this class. Thank you for all the wisdom and advice you imparted to me…I wish I could have taken class with you for longer, because I've learned so much from you in such a short period of time. I want to applaud you once again for your outstanding job as an instructor this semester. #grateful #ProfessorBrown #LMU #EngagedPedagogy #bellhooks Headshot: @seanblackofficial https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc8h213vOZ5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mocha-rebirth]

Sunday, 02.20.2022, was the closing day of the 5th Collegium for African Diaspora Dance (CADD)! It was a great gathering of global, gregarious and critical thinkers, practitioners, educators, activists, artists, icons and students. I was honored to be among them and to call quite a few of them friends. It was wonderful to be part of TWO presentations! One a pre-formed panel “Cosmo-aesthetics of Black Womanhood: Intimate Relationalities Across the Stage, Screen, and Sanctuary” (which was hybrid - in person and virtual with panelists in North Carolina, Canada and Barbados) and the other a workshop, “Dancing Collective Freedom Dreams with Street Dance Activism.” I was able to hug friends, share meals and exchange hearty full throated and full-bellied laughter for extended moments. While nothing is perfect, this was an exceptional series of moments that will stay with me for some time… Ever grateful for enduring and new friendships, some of which resemble kinship. #bbmoves #ProfessorBrown #artist #scholar #CADD #DukeUniversity #BlackDance #Diaspora #1: Dr. Rainy Demerson, Bernard Brown, MFA and Dr. Mika Lior smiling post-hybrid panel presentation. #2: Dr. Julie Johnson and BB #3: BB and Dr. Shamell Bell #4: BB doing his best to capture all of the CADD participants. #5: Image capture of the opening of the Global Fance Meditation Intro video for the Street Dance Activism workshop #6: Stanford C. Berry and BB #7: CADD poster photo #8: Screenshot of a comment in response to my film + paper presentation. (at Duke University) https://www.instagram.com/p/CaOjvFmrLqO/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mocha-rebirth]

“To me, choreography is always an act of sharing.” Blondell Cummings, 1992 My section of Introduction to Choreography at LMU Dance, went beyond the bluffs of Westchester and Silicon Beach down to Leimert Park. We met at Art + Practice. There they witnessed Blondell Cummings in her glory, in moving pictures, in action, in her words. None had encountered nor her work before. One student remarked “she’s turning it (dance as they understood it) on its head!” Many, if not all, had been to Leimert Park though it is a short distance in miles and minutes. I’m excited for our discussion on Monday. #ProfessorBrown #dance #choreography #community #BlondellCummings #LeimertPark #ArtandPractice #MovingPictures @artandpractice @gettymuseum @lmudance (at Art + Practice) https://www.instagram.com/p/CaEfOOLLdQF/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mocha-rebirth]

Double Exposure. Today, in Modern/Contemporary, I gave a mini-lecture on Black Dance Pioneers and Icons. This short list does not EVEN scratch the surface. I wore my @blackbybrand t-shirt with the names of ARTHUR MITCHELL, DONALD MCKAYLE, ELEO POMARE, BILL T. JONES, ALVIN AILEY, and ULYSSES DOVE. After realizing many, if not most, of the students did not know many of these large figures in American dance, we HAD to talk more. We then spoke about the BLACK WOMEN: CARMEN DELLAVLADE, RAVEN WILKINSON, DIANNE MCINTYRE, JUDITH JAMISON, JANET COLLINS, KATHERINE DUNHAM, SYLVIA WATERS, and PEARL PRIMUS. One student said they learned SO MUCH in 15 minutes! It feels important to continue in this vein, introducing…naming…revering our foreparents even and especially in our technique classes. #1: Archival photo from my desk - Lula Washington and Donald McKayle, early 1980s #2: Black female pioneers #3: Black male pioneers #ProfessorBrown #BlackDance #BlackHistoryMonth #ArthurMitchell #DTH #EleoPomare #DonaldMcKayle #BillTJones #AlvinAiley #UlyssesDove #KatherineDunham #CarmenDeLavallade #PearlPrimus #JanetCollins #DianneMcIntyre #JudithJamison #SylviaWaters #pioneers #icons #LMU *pardon my spelling 🥴 (at Loyola Marymount University) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZiyTimrOmf/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mocha-rebirth]

Every step is a bridge to somewhere. Very grateful to have spent the first full week of 2022 in Sacramento. While working on a new work for the 30th Anniversary of Sacramento/Black Art of Dance at Sacramento State University, I was giving the opportunity to reflect and be in a state of gratitude. This was spurred on by being housed this trip in the very same hotel I stayed in when I went to interview at Sac State in 2017. Grateful to have began the year in a creative process, the diligent dancers, teaching Dunham Technique with live percussion, reuniting with friends, and cultivating deeper habits around safety, health and care - for self and by result for my community. Transitions are not always endings. Endings are not always closed doors. Every step is a bridge to somewhere. Thank you @nicolemanker, @lgoodrich5 for all that you are and do. Thank you @sacstatetheatredance. #bbmoves #ProfessorBrown #TheDoorOfNoReturn #Ghana #SacState #Sacramento #LosAngeles #dance #SBAD #grateful #BlackDance (at Sacramento State) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYlJWqALZwE/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mocha-rebirth]

Yesterday. My first semester at LMU is nearly complete. Yesterday was my last class of the term. It’s been truly a gift returning to in-person learning. The energy exchange, working through challenges, hearing, feeling and taking collective breath was so welcomed. Still offering grace as we continue to exist in this pandemic. Folks jokingly refer to it as the “panorama.” I am folks. Yet this idea of full, wide view can be important, especially now. This has been a time of multiple overlapping transitions - back face to face, to a new institution, back to Los Angeles, residing with my love, experiencing grief and cathartic joy. The learning curve is REAL. Everyday I learn a bit more. I’m grateful to be part of this new community! #ProfessorBrown #LMU #lmudance #dance #LosAngeles #firstgen #Year1 #grateful #vernacular #jazz ##contemporary #Horton #Dunham (at Loyola Marymount University) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXUyaDfl9sY/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mocha-rebirth]

Yesterday. My first semester at LMU is nearly complete. Yesterday was my last class of the term. It’s been truly a gift returning to in-person learning. The energy exchange, working through challenges, hearing, feeling and taking collective breath was so welcomed. Still offering grace as we continue to exist in this pandemic. Folks jokingly refer to it as the “panorama.” I am folks. Yet this idea of full, wide view can be important, especially now. This has been a time of multiple overlapping transitions - back face to face, to a new institution, back to Los Angeles, residing with my love, experiencing grief and cathartic joy. The learning curve is REAL. Everyday I learn a bit more. I’m grateful to be part of this new community! #ProfessorBrown #LMU #lmudance #dance #LosAngeles #firstgen #Year1 (at Loyola Marymount University) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXUyaDfl9sY/?utm_medium=tumblr