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Winston Dynamite Brown began dancing at age 8 with no intention of sticking to it, much less making a career of it. He began taking classes at Smith Sisters Dance Studio in South Kansas City, where his mother had attended as a child, as a compromise so he could play football. Once enrolled though, he never made it to the field. Within five years, while attending an Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater summer intensive program, Brown realized dance was his destiny.

It was the Ailey camp that allowed Brown to explore new dance forms, including ballet and modern, and discover an environment where he felt at home. Additionally, Brown met Tyrone Aiken, who would become his life-long mentor. Aiken, executive director of Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, was one of his first modern teachers both at Ailey and at the Westport Ballet School, where Brown continued his dance education.

"Tyrone is my mentor in life and in dance," he said. "He is one of the main reasons why I think I'm as successful. ... He's always been there for me."

After finishing his preliminary education at Kansas City Middle School of the Arts and Paseo Academy of Performing Arts, Brown began applying to colleges, including University of Missouri-Kansas City. Brown knew he was not ready to make his way into the professional dance world yet.

"I needed more training, more concentrated training," he said. "And I knew that a conservatory would allow me to do that and teach me the pedagogy side of it, composition, staging, all those things so I could further be a well-rounded artist, not just a dancer."

Being more than a dancer always has been important to Brown, who insists that his favorite part of performing is sharing his passion and giving back to the audience.

Brown decided on UMKC for three reasons: His support base - family, friends and former dance schools - were in Kansas City, he received generous financial assistance from the university and he also was given the opportunity to mature quickly by performing with the Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company. He considers the latter to be a huge jumpstart to his career, which helped him realize what kind of dancer he wanted to become.

Brown favors contemporary dance movement, noting the desired balance between ballet and modern. He appreciates the technical aspect of ballet but thrives on the down-to-earth accessibility of modern dance.

"Fusing those two together is what I love," he said. "I could never be a classical ballet dancer because it just didn't really speak to me and modern dance didn't always have everything I needed, so I liked the fusion of the two."

After graduation, Brown felt prepared to start auditioning to build up his résumé. He continued performing with Wylliams/Henry until 2005 when he got hired with Paul Taylor 2. He spent several seasons with the company before parting ways on the grounds that dance had become more work than enjoyment.

To shake things up he started freelancing with companies such as Deeply Rooted Productions, Metropolitan Opera, CorbinDances and Sean Curran Company. On the verge of giving up dance altogether, Brown traveled to Minneapolis to perform with TU Dance because he had already committed to a contract.

"Being around that energy - dancing and remembering why I used to dance - really reinvigorated my desire, my love, my passion for dance," he said. "And that is what propelled me to continue dancing, that single experience."

Brown said he owes so much to directors Uri and Toni Pierce-Sands for a second chance. They inspired him to push himself and taught him to be flexible and open to new opportunities and styles. He also picked up a couple of mantras from the pair, which he still adheres to every day: "Nothing to prove, only to share" and "In every show your goal is to create, not to recreate."

This new outlook on life led Brown to audition for Pilobolus Dance Theatre last year. Pilobolus, which has a touring company and a commercial group, stand out from mainstream ballet and modern companies. It created a new niche in the dance world by incorporating dance, athleticism, art, projection and music in a way that is edgy, exciting and exclusive.

"It was totally different than any other audition I had gone to and that's the reason I kept going back," he said.

So far, Brown enjoys touring with Pilobolus and experiencing new venues, although he does not love flying. He said he does not have specific plans once his three-year contract expires in 2012. That will depend on his health and what he is inspired to do. There are still companies that he might pursue, including Alvin Ailey, but he also is considering getting his master's degree to be a college dance professor as well as toying with the idea of having his own dance company.

"I never want to dance until I can't," Brown said. "I'm an artist, I'm always going to be an artist, and with that I feel like there are other things that I can contribute to this art form other than being on stage."

Until he takes his final bow, Winston Dynamite Brown continues to learn about himself, as a person and a dancer, while also remaining true to his roots. His parents named him after his godfather Winston, a truck driver whose CB handle was Dynamite. Although the unique name bothered him as a child, it motivates him to work hard and make his family proud no matter where he is or what he is doing.

"I do think that I will always be connected to the arts in some way, if that's through teaching, choreographing, philanthropy," Brown said. "I will always be a dancer at heart, definitely, but I do want to help my art form as much as I can in any transit that I can."

PREVIEW:
Lied Center at KU
Pilobolus Dance Theater
 University of Kansas
1600 Stewart Ave., Lawrence, KS
Friday, February 5 at 7:30 p.m.
For tickets call 785-864-2787 or online at www.lied.ku.edu

By Laura Vernaci

Dance Contributor

Laura Vernaci is a Kansas City native who has always been passionate about the arts, particularly dance. She began dance lessons at the young age of five and hasn't stopped since. She trained at the Kansas City Ballet where she became a serious dancer and learned about a professional company. 

She attended Butler University in Indianapolis, IN where she majored in dance. She transferred to Truman State University in Kirksville, MO in 2006 and received a degree in Journalism in May 2008.  Laura spent the 2008-2009 in Duluth, MN dancing professionally for the Minnesota Ballet. She performed in productions such as, "The Nutcracker," "Cinderella" and "Coppelia" as well as world premier ballets created on the company.

She recently moved back to Kansas City and is excited to combine her experience in writing with her passion for dance. In addition to performing and writing, Laura also enjoys teaching dance and choreographing.

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