Description
Leon Von Brown, nephew of the late Clifford Brown, will premiere his poignant choreography set to Clifford Brown’s rendition of “Yesterdays”. Opening the show will be a performance by the Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency Ensemble. Following the performance, Leon Von Brown will take questions from the audience.
Wilmington native, LEON VON BROWN emerged as a ‘triple threat’ on the stage of P.S. duPont High School under the direction of BRUCE LAIRD. Since then, he has toured Europe several times as a singer and subsequently as a dancer/choreographer performing with jazz pianist CECIL TAYLOR. His stage work has also included starring, directing and choreographing “THE WIZ” and co-starring with SAMUEL L. JACKSON in the musical “PURLIE”. He was the principle dancer for the ATLANTA DANCE THEATER and DIANNE McINTYRE’s SOUNDS IN MOTION dance company in New York City. His singing credits include recording and touring with the BROOKLYN TABERNACLE CHOIR with performances at CARNEGIE HALL and RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL. He danced in THE OPENING CEREMONIES OF THE 1996 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES in Atlanta on NBC-TV and danced in the HBO TV movie ‘MISS EVERS’ BOYS’ starring ALFRE WOODARD and LAWRENCE FISHBURNE. Most recently, he appeared on the TV series ‘THE RESIDENT’ with MALCOLM-JAMAL WARNER, Lee Daniels ‘STAR’ with QUEEN LATIFAH and National Geographic’s ‘GENIOUS: ARETHA’ with COURTNEY B. VANCE. He also will be performing in the upcoming movie musical “THE COLOR PURPLE” with FANTASIA and TARAJI P. HENSON. Leon has been on the dance faculty of THE ATLANTA BALLET, AGNES SCOTT COLLEGE and currently THE ATLANTA DANCE AND MUSIC ACADEMY. Leon states “My choreography to my uncle’s rendition of ‘YESTERDAYS’ and my children’s book ‘I REMEMBER CLIFFORD’ both serve to honor his legacy and memory”. Leon is a retired special education teacher now residing in Atlanta, Georgia where he continues his theatrical and educational mentoring of aspiring performers of all ages.