Dr. Benita Junette Brown

Dr. Benita Junette Brown
Educator | Dance Historian | Cultural Preservationist

Dr. Benita Junette Brown is a renowned educator, dancer, and cultural historian who specializes in African, African American, and African Caribbean dance traditions. Earning her Doctor of Education in Dance from Temple University and degrees in Communications, Theatre, and Dance Education, Dr. Brown has dedicated her life’s work to preserving, educating, and celebrating Black dance culture.

Professor Emerita of Dance at Virginia State University, Dr. Brown has been a pioneer in online dance education. She continues to teach courses in dance history, African diasporic forms, and cultural foundations. Her innovative approach bridges academic rigor with cultural storytelling, inspiring students worldwide.

Rooted in North Philadelphia’s rich cultural heritage, Dr. Brown created Traditions in Peace: They Love Through Us, a documentary that uses dance and music as healing tools for families affected by gun violence. Supported by grants from the Leeway Foundation and Black Music City, her projects also include a tribute to Baba Robert "Inkunle" Crowder and initiatives to document Philadelphia’s Black social dance legacy.

Dr. Brown is developing her YouTube channel, Black Dance Anthology, as a vibrant digital space showcasing the history, culture, and evolution of Black Dance through engaging videos, archival imagery, and educational content.

Through her proposed Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Apprenticeship, Dr. Brown is working to codify the Philly Bop, blending it with Philly Line Dance traditions to preserve this iconic social dance form for future generations.

She is also the founder of Osun Philly Productions, an emerging e-commerce platform offering African-centered artifacts, including custom-designed t-shirts that celebrate Black culture and dance heritage.

In addition to editing the Foundations of Dance Anthology and Black Dance Anthology eBooks and authoring numerous articles, Dr. Brown is preparing to publish her groundbreaking dissertation, Boppin’ at Miss Mattie’s Place: African American Dance Culture from the Speakeasy to Uptown Theatre.

With a mission to uplift, preserve, and reinterpret Black dance traditions, Dr. Brown continues to weave together scholarship, community engagement, and artistic expression, cementing her legacy as a leading Black Dance scholar and cultural visionary.