BILLBOB BROWN bbrown@dance.umass.edu 11 Totman Building (413) 545-6063 Director of Dance Program, 2010-11 Jazz Dance Technique, Improvisation, Composition, Dance History, Repertory; Associate Professor

Billbob Brown is Associate Professor of Dance at UMass Amherst. He received his BFA from Arizona State University and Master of Arts (in Dance History and Criticism) from the University of New Mexico. Billbob was the co-founder and artistic director of Desert Dance Theatre, in Phoenix, AZ, now in its 31st year, and with whom he continues to perform and set work.

He has created and directed shows at the Utah Shakespearean Festival, and choreographed and performed in TV work and commercials for the Chicago Cubs, Molson Canadian Beer, Disney Studios, and ABC-TV, several of which have received national advertising awards. He has toured nationally with the Bill Evans Dance Company, and, in Albuquerque, was director of Buen Viaje Dancers, a group of people with disabilities. His Emmy-award winning video, "Opening Doors," with Buen Viaje, continues to be seen on PBS stations across the country. He has taught and performed in Japan, England, Switzerland, and throughout Mexico and the United States.

Billbob presently directs Chaos Theory Dance, a science- and video-based dance company which has performed at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Harvard University, Roger Williams University and SUNY/Potsdam, among others. He served as Director of the University Dancers and the University Touring Ensemble from 1993-2003.

Billbob is also an accomplished video animation artist. His latest project, "The Toon Show," incorporates cartoon drawings into live action dancing.

(Appointed 1993)