Doctor of Education
(honoris causa) DEd
Debra Lynne Brown is the original choreographer for the world renowned Cirque du Soleil. Born in Brantford, she got her start as a trained acrobat and choreographer at the local YM-YWCA. She is a graduate of York University and the University of Western Ontario. Throughout her professional career, Ms. Brown has been the principal choreographer and an integral part of many world-renowned productions including her involvement in the choreography for Cirque du Soleil since its inception in 1987. Her touring shows include Cirque Reinvente, Nouvelle Experience, Saltimbanco, Alegria, Quidam, Corteo, Amaluna, the Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour and most recently Luzia, which opened in May 2016. Permanent instalments include O, Mystère, Zumanity and Zarkana in Las Vegas; La Nouba in Orlando; and Zed in Tokyo. Ms. Brown is founder of Line 1, a visual feast embracing music, circus, dance and multimedia spectacle where musicians fly and dancers sing.
Ms. Brown received an honorary doctorate of Education and deliver the convocation address on June 7, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. in the Sanderson Centre (88 Dalhousie St, Brantford).