the company
Founded in 2004 by Brittany Brown Ceres, dance ceres, is an ensemble of dancers who devour the performance arena with weighted fluidity, extensions that reach through time, and a dynamically expressive commitment. Described by critics as, "swift and irresistible" (Allan Ulrich, Voiceofdance.com, 7/06) and "lucid and voluptuous" (Rita Felciano, SFBG, 12/07), the core inspiration of the work examines diversity and resilience through intricate and energetic dance. Ceres has produced in the San Francisco Bay Area at West Wave Dance & numerous Bay Area Theater venues and educational facilities, as well as Portland, San Diego, New York, New Zealand & at the American College Dance Festival.
It is the mission of dance ceres is to study timeless, repetitive human stories, synthesizing our similarities and driving equality through art.
Image by Andy Mogg, pictured: Britany Ceres and Emma Stewart
brittany brown ceres
She grew up in Portland, Oregon and received her first professional choreographic gig at the age of fifteen. She attended UC, San Diego and secured a BA in Theater, with a double minor in Dance and Biology in three years, under the mentorship of Jean Isaacs, Nina Martin, Kathryn Irey & Margaret Marshall. In San Diego, she studied extensively with Lower Left Dance, Isaacs/McCaleb & Dancers and performed and choreographed her own work for Synaptic Alternative Dance Project.
In 1996 she moved to New Zealand to choreograph and perform with Christchurch's Dance Core, under the direction of Sheryl Robinson and Fleur DeTheir. While in NZ she choreographed for St. Margaret's College and taught modern dance at Hadley College.
Ceres was drawn to the Bay Area after working with Joe Goode in 1998 and over the last many years has produced her own work all over the West Coast. In addition to Goode, Ceres has trained with Janice Garrett, Robert Moses, Mary Carbonara, Diane Frank and Kim Epifano.
Ceres was among first graduating class to complete an MFA in Choreography from SUNY, Purchase College (2000). She went on to finish her studies with an MA in Dance Education at Stanford (2001). A multi-year winner of the Mary Edith Clifford Award for Alumni Choreography, Ceres is regularly commissioned by the Dance Division for new work, in conjunction with Stanford Lively Arts. She has previously danced with Deborah Slater Dance Theater, Black Label Dance, Dance Elixir, Davalos Dance Company.
She was the Associate Director of the WestWave Dance Festival from 2003-2007 and managed ODC Theater from ‘03-‘06. She taught choreography at SF School of the Arts for 8 years, under the direction of Elvia Marta and she remains an advisor.
Currently, Ceres continues to build structures that highlight talent as a business leader. She is the Director of Human Resources and Skywalker Properties and serves as a coach for business culture as a catalyst for success.
Finally, she is also the proud mother of her finest work yet, her children, Rhône & Rakaia Ceres.
funding
dance ceres is fiscally sponsoered by DanceArt, inc. As a 501c3, your donations to DanceArt, Inc on behalf of dance ceres are tax-deductible. (Mail to: 775 Blithedale Ave. #351 Mill Valley, CA 94941). Conspire with us to create new work, to help support local, working artists!
dance ceres has received funding from the following gracious organizations and individuals:
The Zellerbach Family Foundation • The CA$H Grant program organized by Dancers' Group & Theatre Bay Area • Ken Hempel • Carrie Avritt • Joan Lazarus • Stanford University Lively Arts • The Garage • The SF Queer Arts Festival • West Wave Dance • CounterPULSE • The Jon Sims Center for the Arts • Visa International • Margaret Marshall • Kate Mitchell • Sadie Weinberg/The Group • Rob Bailis • Emma Stewart • Rich Gill • Leyya Tawil • Jer Faludi • Robert & Therese Vialet • Howard & Rozanne Junker.
THANKS to these wonderful folks, for helping us meet our Kickstarter goal!
Susan Arthur • Bruce Murray • Dana Bedingfield • William B. Rozell • Nathan & Amy Brown • Jenny • Brady Murray • Jennifer Brown • Betzi Roe • Gianna Shepard • Coralee & John Dey • Molly Singer • Wendy Barnes • Peggy Daly Pizzo • Kate Mitchell • Robert & Terese Vialet • Skye Livingston • Cheryl Irwin • Milt Barker • Kristin • Lucy Marks • Lisa • Lorri Asder • Amelia Rudolph • Fran Nelson • Ben & Trace Klein • Steve Klopf • Catherine Murty • Ashley Hayes • Paula • Sarah Sandoval