Dance Educator & Visionary Entrepreneur

Benita Junette Brown, D.Ed.

Born and raised in North Philadelphia, I have devoted my life to the study, teaching, and preservation of Black dance. After earning my Doctor of Education degree in Dance Education from Temple University in 1998, I joined Virginia State University the following year. For over two decades, I served as a full professor of dance, inspiring students through courses that explored African, African Diaspora, and African Caribbean traditions. Since my semi-retirement in 2020, I continue to teach online at VSU, sharing culture and history with new generations.



My work extends beyond the classroom. I have performed and lectured internationally, and today I continue that mission through film. My documentaries include Traditions in Peace: They Love Through Us, which explores healing and gun violence through dance, and A Tribute to Baba Robert “Ibikunle” Crowder, honoring the founder of Kulu Mele African Dance & Drum Ensemble.

Looking ahead, I am developing an Afrocentric online marketplace featuring clothing, housewares, and cultural items that, like my scholarship and films, honor heritage and celebrate identity.