Brownbody's 2022 Goals & Programming

Blending modern dance, theater, social justice and skating since 2007, Brownbody received its 501(c)(3) status in 2013. Brownbody cultivates space to process and create  artistic work that offers honest and nuanced stories rooted in blackness. Moving from a US based Black perspective, Brownbody’s work and programs shift histories and contemporary realities lived by Black diasporic communities from the peripheries of mainstream consciousness to “center stage/ice.

Brownbody affirms the complexity, beauty, vulnerability, strength, resilience, fatigue, fear, honesty, humility, and magic that have and continue to characterize the historic and contemporary journeys of so many US-based Black communities. Brownbody is a multi-genre artistic vehicle that critically reframes cultural memory as a force of truth and beauty[1] that continues to evolve through performance, conversation and in the act of coming together. Focused on the historically rooted trauma of Black communities living in the U.S., we cultivate time and space for reflection, healing, and celebration through our donation-based learn to skate lessons, community dialogues and interactive workshops, and boundary-breaking artistic work that blends multiple artistic genres, including figure skating, modern dance, social justice practice, and theater.

In addition to presenting professional artistic work for the ice and stage, Brownbody offers donation based learn to skate lessons, has developed an Embodied Racial Consciousness practice, and is currently working on developing a technical artist residency program for technical arts professionals of color.

We have a big 2022 planned including the premier of our latest artistic work, Tracing Sacred Steps, the creation of a digital (film) performance of this work, the development of an apprentice program that creates space for young Black and Brown skilled skaters to create community by  gathering on the ice for embodiment work, improv, and to learn some of the Brownbody rep, and preparation for the aforementioned Technical Artist residency program.

Doing this work is not always easy, But it’s worth it. For every reason.

Want to know why? Because Brownbody gets the chance to connect with people, to create spaces where US based Black communities can connect, share, and live in their full beauty, glory, and complexity and then pay it forward.

Speaking of paying it forward. Brownbody depends on the generous support of anyone and everyone that believes in this work and understands they are an important part of this journey.

Brownbody spends the majority of its annual budget on paying artists/instructors/production personnel (when we are in a production year) and icetime. For example, an hour of icetime ranges from $170/hour up to $230/hour--typically for a production we require upwards of 200 hours of icetime for rehearsals, and technical production requirements.

So we’d be grateful if you would consider becoming a part of the Brownbody family by offering up a donation. Any amount is truly appreciated.

[1] Alexander, M J. Pedagogies of Crossing: Meditations on Feminism, Sexual Politics, Memory, and the Sacred. Durham [N.C.: Duke University Press, 2005. Print.] p. 289