Sister Patricia Brown

Sister Patricia Brown is a Twin Cities-based dancer, choreographer, performer, and Teaching Artist who has enriched the region’s arts community for more than 30 years. Through African-based movement instruction, she connects dance traditions from West Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas, bringing cultural history and creative expression to learners of all ages.

As a Teaching Artist, Patricia has worked in schools, community centers, summer programs, dance studios, juvenile detention facilities, and higher education settings, including Macalester College and the University of Minnesota. She has collaborated with organizations such as Arts-Us, Penumbra Theatre Company’s Summer Institute, and the VocalEssence WITNESS School Program.

Patricia’s contributions have earned numerous honors, including the University of Minnesota Distinguished Teaching Award, the Century Council Diverse Community Award, the Arts-Us Legacy Arts Recognition Award, and a nomination for a Sage Award for Outstanding Dance Educator. In recognition of her lasting impact, Penumbra Summer Institute established the Patricia A. Brown Scholarship in 2013.

As a movement coach, Patricia has partnered with leading arts organizations including Penumbra Theatre Company, Pillsbury House Theatre, SteppingStone Theatre, and History Theatre, helping performers develop confidence, presence, and authentic movement on stage.

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