Deborah Brockus has been a major dance artist, curator, and producer in Los Angeles for several decades. Her company, BrockusRED is currently celebrating its 25th season and she has operated and produced concerts and choreographic showings at Brockus Project Studios now for 15 years. Ask any dance artist in L.A. and they will tell you just how difficult that is to do, and the majority of them know who Deborah Brockus is and many of them, including me, have rehearsed in her studios.
October 17 – 19, 2025, Brockus will be presenting a 3 day celebration “connecting the people past and present that have had their lives impacted by the work Brockus Project has done to support dance in L.A.” As she describes it, “Looking back to look forward to the next 15 years.”
BrockusRED in “Dune” choreography by Deborah Brockus – Photo by Denise Leitner
The main event is Saturday, October 18th at 6 pm when BrockusRED & friends will perform a short program followed by a party and raffle honoring the accomplishments that Brockus Project has made in Los Angeles over the past many years. The evening is also a fundraiser to generate funding. This money will help launch Brockus Project Dance in their efforts to continue for another 15 years. Brockus’ goal is to collect 1,500 comments from people Brockus Project has impacted and the company hopes to raise $15,000 which will fund studio time for three months. To leave a quote: BPS15BPDC25@gmail.com. See the full 3 day schedule below.
“The first class I taught I was hooked on teaching and the first piece I made for that job I was in love with choreography – to be able to see in real life what I was in my head was addictive,” Brockus said. “ Producing showcases is challenging but a fun adrenaline rush of organization bringing together so many moving parts, connecting people from all over bound by dance.
To feed this passion you learn all sorts of non-dance things: costume sewing, accounting, grant writing, power tools, tech crew, marketing, photography, construction, music editing and so much more.”
Brockus MATCH Residency – Jolyn Lambey and Arturo Gonzalez in Sean Greene’s “La Principessa Cane Magia” – Photo by Don Hannah.
Brockus is all about supporting the dance community in Los Angeles. One will see choreographic works by L.A. residency artists who Brockus Project Dance has fostered over the years as well as inspiring choreographers in a competitive showcase where the audience votes for who receives 30 hours of free studio time.
Still Moving – Ken Morris Project members Christopher Derant and Joel Muepo in Morris’ “Bad News” – Photo by Denise Leitner
“Dance in LA is so different that other places, the only advice that worked for me was from LA company choreographers. I have had a great mentor in Lula Washington Dance Theater and the biography of Lester Horton where the company dancers did it all. The support of other company directors is critical, we are not working alone, exchanging advice is powerful,” Brockus said.
Maura Townsend Dance Project – Photo courtesy of the artist.
In addition to the annual Los Angeles Dance Festival, Brockus Project Dance has produced over 200 showcases for local emerging and advanced choreographers, provided training classes, workshops with leading teachers, and hosted international groups, residencies, town halls, gather hangouts, after school teen programs, in school k-12 classes. The LA Dance Festival has combined auditions, dance film screenings, and professional development workshops. Brockus has traveled to France, Korea and around the country. If that wasn’t enough, she also developed a food bank and thrift store, fostered stray kittens and more.
Zac Greenberg and Charlotte Katherine Smith in “Pyriscence” choreography by Charlotte K. Smith – Photo courtesy of LADF
“BPStudios was created to provide a place for companies to have a home where dancers meet up in the lobby and build community. A space that celebrates art and artists,” Brockus wrote in her press release. “BUT, the funding issues are real. I once had a dance critic say that you do not see money on stage just quality. And I laughed. Money buys studio time, dancer pay, better costumes, someone to edit or create your music, better videos and photos, more time in a theater space for technical rehearsals and better promotional materials. All of this created a wonderful polished production., no matter how good or bad the is choreography. So the end product, is impacted by funding. And if you have money, your shows look great and then you get more funding. But despite that dance in LA is strong. I worry about our future as so many companies survive here because of our educational program grants. Funding for both arts and education have been severely reduced or cut. Without a strong increase in funding LA dance, the choreography by actual LA residents and danced by LA dancers might not make it to the Olympic stage.”
SHOWS
Past/Present/Future
Friday Oct 17th 7:00pm
Showcase featuring works by former residency/showcase choreographers: Alondra Perez, Charlotte k Smith, Tashara Gavin-Moorehead, Gretchin Ackerman, Eliezer Rabelo. Jill Gregory, Maryam Malmir, Sean Greene, Brockus (second company)
Saturday Oct 18th 6:00pm
The Main Event: BrockusRED & Friends short showcase followed by a Celebration Party with auction, food and prizes
Works by: Deborah Brockus (BrockusRED), Ken Morris, Maura Townsend Dance, Charlotte K. Smith, Sean Greene
Sunday Oct 19th 4:00pm
Choreography Competition where the audience votes to choose the winner of 30 hours for rehearsal time in the studio.
Choreography by: Mia Moraru, Aysha Cummingham, Margaux Gex, Emilio Castellon, Marissa Mahoney, Beth Huelsenbeck, Anisa Johnson, Jordan Diamond, Jesse Ocampo (PaperCrane Project), Hannah Joo, Elaina Greenawalt, Emily & Tanz Tanz Revolution.
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WHAT: Celebrating 15 years of Brockus Project Studios and 25 years of Brockus Project Dance
WHEN: Friday, October 17 at 7:00 pm; Saturday, October 18 at 6:00 pm; and Sunday, October 19 at 4:00 pm.
WHERE: Brockus Project Studios, 618 B Moulton Ave Los Angeles CA 90031
TICKETS: $20
HOW TO PAY:
Zelle: 562-412-7429
Venmo: @BrockusProjectStudio
Paypal: BrockusProjectDance.org
To leave a quote: BPS15BPDC25@gmail.com
For more information about Brockus Project Dance, please visit their website.
Written by Jeff Slayton for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: BrockusRED
