Changing Currents: José Brown and Postmodern Dance in the U.S.

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This project investigates the life and work of choreographer José Brown. It argues that considering Brown within the context of postmodern choreographic practices in the US not only offers a much needed emphasis on the work of choreographers of color, but also a critical contribution to the limited scholarship on dance history in the Pacific Northwest. Brown began his dance training at Reed College with Judy Massee in the late 1960s before finishing his degree at the California Institute of the Arts. Brown moved to New York City where he danced with a number of important choreographers associated with postmodern as well as modern dance styles, including Rudy Perez, Pearl Lang, and Alwin Nikolais.

Brown returned to Portland in the mid-1970s to open a studio and found his company, Changing Dance Theater. The company’s repertory showcased Brown’s eclectic choreographies, which were performed at prominent national venues including the Merce Cunningham Dance Studio, La MaMa Theatre, and St. Mark’s Church. His works incorporated postmodern devices including pastiche, site specific projects, and an emphasis on the ordinary.

How to Navigate

There are multiple ways to engage with this digital exhibtion. The "Roots," "Around the World," "New York," and "End of Life" links lead to curated selections of materials from the José Brown Papers that capture different stages in Brown's personal and professional life. The "Changing Currents: A Reflection" link leads to a short article that situates Brown's life and work within US dance history and expands upon materials featured in the exhibition.

Copyright: 

All original materials and digitized images are owned by Reed College. Please contact the Special Collections Librarian for permission to reproduce, publish, or otherwise distribute images or other materials on this website.