Dr. Benita Junette Brown

My research concerns the study of African and African-American dance and culture as it relates to Africa and the diaspora. I have presented several papers dealing with this theme. A summary of my research presentations are as follows:

Lecutre/Workshop: ''Concertized West African Dance,'' Virginia Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Conference, November, 2000.

Lecture: ''Shake it Fast! Philly's Old School Line Dances and their Significance to African-American Culture,'' Brown Bag Lecture Series, Virginia State University, Spring, 2001.

Lecture/Performance: ''Everything's Copasetic: The Bojangles Exhibit,'' (Performance by Virginia State University's students), Art Gallery, Virginia State University, November, 2001.

Lecture/Performance: ''Everything's Copasetic: The BoJangles Exhibit,'' Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library, Pennsylvania, December, 2001.

Lecture/Performance: ''Return and Fetch It: African-American Dance History,'' Virginia Collegiate Honors Council and Virginia State University Honors Program, April, 2002.

Lecture/Workshop: ''Boppin' At Miss Mattie's Place: Regionalism, Place and Space in a North Philadelphia, African-American Grassroots Dance Practice of the 1960's to 1970's,'' Society of Dance History Scholars Conference, June 2002.

Lecture/Workshop: ''A Biography of North Philly's Dances,'' Timbuktu Dance Studios, December, 1999.

Lecture: ''Old World Dances meets New World Dances,'' African-American Historical Museum's BlackHistory Month Program, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November, 1998.

Lecture: ''Dances from the Old Mali Empire: An accomplishment, skill, ability or other information,'' February, 1998.

Besides my work as a dance scholar, I also indulge in the performing arts through dance and storytelling. The following are examples of my creative works.

- Founder, Spirit of Sankofa Performing Arts Company, Inc., December 1984-August, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1999
- Artistic Director, Sankofa Dance Theater, Virginia State University, Petersburg, Virginia, August, 1999 - September 2003
- Choroegrapher, 'A Dance Tribute to Duke Ellington,' Sunoco's 'Welcome America' Celebration, July, 1999
- Guest Artist/Dancer, 'Rosa Parks,' Grand Opera House, Wilmington, Delaware, June, 1998
- Choreographer, UnverSOUL Circus Parade, May, 1999
- Choreographer, 'Queen Yahna Presents a Dedication to Mahalia Jackson,' Germany, Winter, 1998
- Creator/Choreographer, 'The Creation of Ori: A Dance Drama,' Grand Opera House, Wilmington, Delaware, June, 1998

African-American dance has contributed to the American cultural milieu. I seek to uncover the ways in which syncretized dance forms developed in America. I will continue to conduct research on African-American grassroots [poor, working-class people] dance culture, which is at the heart of syncretized dance. Further, besides the dance movement itself, the research seeks out the cultural tenets of African-American dance. For example, dance is accompanied by cultural traditions in food, style of dress, typeof music, familial, social, and religious/spiritual activities. I will publish my findings thereby benefiting the regional, national, and international world of dance as well as documenting American history.

The research will assist as a resource to dance educators who want to teach their students about the etymology of dance. In regard to the entertainment industry, dancers and other performers will gain cultural and historical information that can be portrayed in theater and dance presentations on Broadway and off-off Broadway. Research and publications of this type are rarely conducted.