About

Born in Frankfurt, Germany to American parents, Natalie Brown grew up studying classical music and ballet, and forcing classmates into productions of her own devising as she traveled the world with her military family. Natalie graduated from Irmo High School, where she was a flautist with the world-class Irmo Symphonic Winds. She went on to get a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Tulane University, lived abroad in London where she picked up swing dancing, and settled in New Orleans as a freelance fine arts journalist with Gambit Weekly Magazine. She met her spiritual match, however, when she stumbled upon a tribal style bellydance class in New Orleans in 2004. Originally endeavoring to rehabilitate from a back injury, Natalie quickly became engrossed with the artform. She soon became a N.o.madic Tribal company member under the careful teachings of Ali Arnold, Amy Hession and Lisa Lala, original students of ATS Master Teacher Meg Gavin of Devyani.

After fleeing hurricane Katrina, Natalie found herself starting over near family in Columbia, SC. Reeling from the storm and struggling to find her footing in a very different culture, she endeavored to make her own fun and keep the spirit of New Orleans arts rolling. With no tribal troupes or classes established in the state of South Carolina, she founded Tribal Style classes in November of 2005 (with the benevolent help of the CMFA and Center for Dance Education), and formed Delirium Tribal Bellydance Company in April of 2006. Under her artistic direction, Delirium Tribal quickly became a respected member of the Southeast U.S. bellydance community. Natalie, as a solo artist and at the helm of her company, became known for clean technique and regal, elegant performances. The company also became known for experimental and ground-breaking choreographies that explored storylines, theatrics, collaborations and partnering work.

In August of 2007, Delirium Tribal transitioned to a collective approach and teamed up with fire performers and hulahoopers based in the Columbia area. The new umbrella vaudeville circus-inspired performance organization was coined Alternacirque, and the group gave their first performance in September of 2007. The company has expanded to include breakdancers, stiltwalkers, poets, acrobats and most recently, aerial arts. In the past four years, Alternacirque has experienced rapid growth and great success, pulling large audiences and successfully producing underground cabaret and circus arts shows and festivals. Natalie was the recipient of the South Carolina Arts Commission’s Artist Ventures Initiative grant, and in 2011, a successful Kickstarter campaign helped the circus buy new equipment. With the circus in the thick of the underground arts movement, Columbia’s arts scene has been enjoying a renaissance of culture, art, dance and circus.

Natalie also designs costumes for herself, her circus, and other performers. She’s also picked up music again, and can often be seen playing various flutes, a ukelele, and singing with The Day Late and Dollar Shortkestra and as a guest with Istanpitta Early Music Ensemble. She lives quite happily in Columbia, SC with her dog, C. Ray.