Cherelle Brown
Cherelle Brown has long been an active and vivacious member of the Columbus dance community. Super-mother of four beautiful humans, Cherelle has worked closely with some of Columbus’s most well known and established dance institutions such as Thoissane West African Dance Institute, Onyx Productions, and OYO Dance Company. She continues to keep growing as an artist, recognizing her own path in order to blaze the way for up and coming Columbus dancers. We are thrilled to feature Cherelle as our Community Spotlight artist this month, and to share a deeper dive into her creative impact on the Columbus dance and performance community. We posed some questions, and here is what she had to say:
Q: How would you describe your art?
Image Description: Color image of Cherelle Brown wearing bright, stripped, patterned, and feathered garb, performing at the Columbus Caribbean Festival.
A: I would describe my art as spontaneous, adventurous, and passionate. I absolutely love collaborating with other artists, which has led to some amazing opportunities and experiences. My art is primarily dance, but spontaneity and the joy of trying new things has led me to different dance styles, cheerleading, body art, photography, acting, poetry, painting, cooking, and a variety of crafting. If there’s a way to channel my energy, thoughts, and emotions, I’m all in! I’d specifically describe my dance as energetic, flowing, and intentional. Whether I’m moving to the heart-pounding rhythm of an African drum or standing still in silence, I hope the audience can feel my energy.
Q: What has your experience been making art in the Columbus dance community?
A: I’ve been blessed. My freshman year of high school at Fort Hayes, I had my eyes opened to the world of dance and built relationships that have grown over time. Under the mentorship and direction of Alfred Dove, Gamal Brown, Suzan Bradford-Kounta, and Carmen Alston, I not only learned how to dance, but why I dance. A recurring theme I’ve encountered while making art in the Columbus dance community is “connection.” Connecting with others, connecting with my culture, and connecting with my faith.
One constructive criticism I have about the dance community: a divide is present. Whether intentional or unintentional, it’s there. Dancers and dance companies struggle to develop their art because of socio-economic status, and neighborhood development. There’s a divide between different dance styles, and attitudes toward dance companies are swayed based on the education and training of the instructors/directors. There’s this idea that in order to be a trueprofessional, you need to leave Ohio and travel to a bigger city for bigger opportunities. There’s an assumption that a hip-hop dancer can’t teach a modern class, or that a company dancer can’t choreograph. The dance community is going through segregation and gentrification, with dancers and dance companies either being put into boxes that are difficult to climb out of or seemingly relying on someone to swoop in and financially build them up. This all might seem vague, but I think those affiliated with the dance community might understand where I’m coming from. I don’t have an immediate solution for this. But as a first step, we as a dancers and as a community need to stop pretending like this isn’t real.
Q: You express your experience as an artist and performer in terms of multi-dimensionality, and the power of saying “yes.” How has remaining open or saying “yes” shaped your path in the dance world?
A: Saying “yes” is terrifying and fulfilling at the same time! We hear often about the power of saying “no” to protect our peace and mental health. As artists, we can tend to over-do it, and we need to listen to our bodies and know when to rest. However, I’ve learned over the years that there is also a power in saying “yes” to those opportunities that we would normally let pass by. By saying “yes”, I’ve danced across the country and overseas, met celebrities, danced at major sporting events, graced historical and renowned stages, and worked with artists that I wouldn’t normally cross paths with. Saying “yes” has created a steady stream of opportunities that I haven’t had to search for on my own. As an artist, it’s mind-blowing to not have to look for work because it comes to you. I have a running joke with Gamal Brown… if his name pops up on my phone on in my inbox, my answer is yes. I don’t need to know the details. I’m all the way in. If you know him, you know how wonderfully scary that is! There are definitely times when I’m shaking in my leg warmers at an audition or rehearsal thinking “What the heck have I gotten myself into?”, but man, my growth as an artist and the experiences I’ve had wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for saying “yes”.
Q: What are your hopes/dreams/desires for dance in Columbus, your dance or otherwise?
A: I hope that dancers in Columbus can find a way outside their box if they notice that they’re in one. That we can see the potential in connecting with others, trying new things, and saying “yes” when we would normally say “no”.
Photo Credit: Onyx Productions
Image Description: Color photograph of Cherelle Brown wearing a black dress with a blue hem, standing on a large box, holding her right wrist with her left hand at eye level.
My dream for the community is to make dance and dance spaces more accessible to our community. How can we develop programming for children and adults who don’t have the money to pay for a membership, class fee, dance clothes, or transportation? How can we develop or reserve spaces for current dance companies to rehearse and perform? How can we develop programming and a safe space for individuals that require some level of support to participate due to mental or physical needs? There is power and healing in dance, and my dream is for everyone who wants to experience it to be able to. I have this dream of renovating a building in town and turning it into a dance studio. Very simple… some good marley floors, mirrors and ballet bar, decent bathrooms, and a sound system. This space would be for the community to rent out, maybe with a small membership fee of some sort, and would be accessed with a 24-hour key card for those late-night choreography sessions. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy whenever I think about it!
My desire for myself is to keep growing. I’m a work in progress, and I recognize moments when I stand in my own way. I’ve opted to not participate in dance classes or workshops because I would be the only black person, because my body size/shape is different from everyone else, and because my technique in a certain style might be rusty or still developing. Imposter syndrome is real, and sometimes I need to build myself up and remind myself that I belong in these different spaces. I’ll never reach a point as an artist when I’m done learning.
Q: What other Columbus based artists are you inspired by right now?
A: Maaannnn!!! Basically every artist I’m connected to. I’m inspired by Gamal Brown’s knack for connecting movement, music, and spoken word in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable and empowered at the same time. I’m inspired by Suzan Bradford-Kounta and Ndeye Sy for working so diligently to teach African culture, history, and values through drum and dance. My dance sisters Lori Lindsey and Candice Igeleke have inspired me during rehearsals, late-night jam sessions, and regular check-ins and I admire their intensity and drive when it comes to developing their craft. Adrienne Collins works her magic on choreography… her attention to lines, angles, and transitions brings dance to life. Donald Isom… don’t get me started. This man’s style is so, so smooth, and the way he can tell a story without any words is mesmerizing. LaTausha Bonner has put in some serious work to build a drill team and provide opportunities for young ladies, drilling them in the history and style of HBCU dance while helping to mold her dancers into strong individuals. Kenneth Brown inspires me to tap into teaching and choreography, to reframe my thinking when I’m feeling stuck, and encourages me to think big. This list will go on forever if I included everyone. I’m surrounded by such a dope tribe.
If you are interested in learning more about or supporting any ongoing work that Cherelle is or has been a part of, check out and/or follow the following groups:
All Star Jammerz: @allstarjammerz
Ce Moment Photography: @cemomentphotography, website: cemomentphotography.com
Onyx Productions: @onyxprod @onyxproductionspresents, website: onyxproductionohio.com
Oyo Dance Company: @oyodancecompany, website: oyodancecompany.org
Suzanne Accetta: @suzanneaccetta, website: suzanneaccetta.com
Thiossane: @thiossane_dance, website: thiossaneinst.org
Follow Cherelle on Instagram @Babyrell23 or consider donating to her ongoing work via Venmo @Cherelle-B-23, PayPal @CherelleB23, or CashApp: $CherelleBrown.