Brown, Karen (1955–)

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Brown, Karen (1955–)

African-American ballet dancer. Born Oct 6, 1955, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.

Trained at American Ballet Center and the school of the Dance Theater of Harlem, where, as principal dancer (1973–95), she performed in works by George Balanchine, Geoffrey Holder, John Taras, and Agnes de Mille; taught in company's community outreach program during yearly residencies at Kennedy Center in Washington, DC; became artistic director of Oakland Ballet (c. 2000), one of the few black women to head a major US dance company.

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