Clifton Brown
Clifton Keefer Brown was born and raised in Chicago, where he began his dance studies at Ellis-Du Boulay ballet school. He received his BFA in dance from the University of Iowa under the guidance of Francois Martinique and his MFA from the University of Arizona under the guidance of James Clouser and Melissa Lowe. Brown’s professional career has been Ballet Arizona, Grand Rapids Ballet. He has performed with The Los Angeles Chamber Ballet, and pursued a European career performing with DjazzX Modern Dance Company in Den Hagg, Holland and Friedrichstad Palast in Berlin, Germany. In 1997, as a principal dancer he joined L'Ensemble Da Micha Van Hoecke in Rosignano, Italy. The ensemble tours Italy, Russia and Spain and performs annually at the Ravenna Festival and Theatre Massimo in Palermo, Italy. In 2008, he was invited by the American Studies Association of Turkey as a guest artist to perform and present a lecture on the African American Influence on Classical Ballet. Brown was the former Dance Program Coordinator/Associate Professor at Western Kentucky University and is the Advisor of Higher Education and Professional Schools for Bellamoxi dance convention.