Celebrate the legacy of Black music
In June 1979, President Jimmy Carter ® declared June as Black Music Month, a time to celebrate the legacy of African-American composers, singers, songwriters and musicians. President Barack Obama has acknowledged June as African-American Music Appreciation Month each year of his term.
In the past, the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper has profiled local and national artists in every genre of music during the month of June. This year, we will take a look at choirs and their growing popularity across musical genres. In addition, we will also profile various local choreographers. Stay tuned to the Recorder all month long for our Black Music Month tribute.
Christopher “Eclipse” Brown has excelled as a dancer since childhood. Growing up in Indianapolis, he transformed early tough times into a career that has him dancing alongside the music industry’s biggest names such as Jay-Z and Kanye West.
Brown has worked with notable choreographers such as Fatima, Loreanne Gibson and Michael Rooney, just to name a few.
He’s performed with numerous music artists such as Stevie Wonder, Lil Kim and Mary Mary, and has been seen in television commercials, print ads, and award shows such as Pepsi, K-Swiss, and the Vibe Awards. Choreographing performances for Super Bowl XXXIV added another accomplishment to his already impressive resume.
The Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper recently interviewed this talented Indy native choreographer to discuss his inspirations, celebrity insights and why he considers dancing to be forever necessary.
Indianapolis Recorder: How did you get your start dancing?
Brown: Dancing was the only thing I could relate to as a child to communicate what was going on inside of me. I grew up in a two-bedroom house with six, seven people in it at all times, so verbal communication wasn’t always the best way to express my feelings. I used dance to express what I was going through and collect my thoughts.
I’ve always had a natural ability for dance. I was the kid always dancing at parties and family functions. My passion for it made me want to learn more. I formed some dance groups and I went to Broad Ripple High School for Performing Arts. I also did local talent shows like Starquest. I started working professionally when I was about 15 years old with Dance Afrique under the direction of Jeffrey Page.
When did you realize you were really good and decide to take your professional career further?
Every stage in my career, I thought I was good and looked back and realized I wasn’t as good as I thought. Dance is one of those things you never stop learning. I’m 36 now and I’m still learning so much. I do believe I am a well-rounded dancer. I’ve had training in a lot of different areas and am able to adapt to choreography styles quickly.
You’ve danced with some of the top choreographers so your dance prowess is considerable too. What is it like to dance along side choreography stars?
It’s a reminder that I have so much to learn. When I get in the studio with them, I’m still a little nervous. I can never believe I have access to them and can talk to them in a normal environment. And then I get paid to dance with them!
How did you become adept to so many styles of dance?
I started getting serious with dance when I was a teenager. We’d train in African dance at St. Joan of Arc over on College Avenue every weekend for about four hours. I had already had hip-hop under my belt too, but I wanted to know more about ballet and modern. I studied ballet, jazz, and modern and that took me to a whole other level.
Who are some of the most memorable celebs you’ve choreographed for?
Some of the most notable ones are Jay-Z, I was responsible for his out of retirement show. Kanye West was a really big deal. I’ve worked with Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliot, Ludacris, Blu Cantrell… I have an extensive resume.
You’re one of the founders and choreographers for the internationally acclaimed Un_Titled Dance Company. Tell us more about it.
The title pretty much says it all. It gives us the freedom to expand what people think of as hip-hop dance. Me and the other founders, Leon Clayborn and Darell Whitaker, we felt stagnant in the hip-hop community. We formed this group and called it Un_Titled so no one would put a label on it. As soon as you said it was hip-hop, we couldn’t do a pirouette; or something that’s not supposed to cross. We use this to break down barriers.
What’s next for you?
I’ve worked with some of the top names in the industry, but there’s a few people I’d say I want to work with that I haven’t already. I want to work with Kendrick Lamar and Theohilus London, a rapper from Brooklyn Kanye (West) signed. I also want to move into creative directions.
I’m working on a project called “Love Line” an interactive, multimedia piece of theatre that combines the digital age with old school theatre and choreography to tell the story. I’m also working on another piece of dance that is high-level fine arts. The stage is a canvas and the dancers have on specialized shoes that actually paint while they’re dancing.
Why is the art form of dance timeless?
I believe dance is the bottom of your soul. Rhythm is something everybody has no matter what color you are. When you come out the womb, your first dance is breath – it moves to a certain rhythm. How you develop that is up to you. You’re always moving even when music isn’t on. We’re all moving in a choreographed way for things to coexist peacefully. That’s why dance is timeless. Dance is life.
