Hilary Brown-Istrefi
dancer

Hilary Brown-Istrefi is a Canadian-American director, choreographer, performer, curator, educator, and cultural organizer. Originally from Toronto, now living in Far Rockaway, NY, she is a graduate of École de danse contemporaine de Montréal, and over the last decade has performed in the works of Melissa Riker, Bouchra Ouizguen, Jillian Peña, Doug Elkins, Linda Tegg, and Candice Breitz.

In 2013 she co-founded the award-winning performance collective, Same As Sister (S.A.S.), with her twin Briana Brown-Tipley. Their interdisciplinary commissions have been presented internationally at venues including The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance (Toronto); Base: Experimental Arts + Space (Seattle); Marmo - Libreria d’Arte Contemporanea (Italy); Archaeological Museum of Messenia (Greece); Danspace Project (NYC); Centre d'Art Marnay Art Centre (France); BRIC Arts | Media House (NYC); and New York Live Arts (NYC). The collective’s commission as part of The Miserere Project, This is NOT a Remount, a co-production with Citadel + Compagnie, was nominated for a 2022 Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Production (Dance).

Hilary initiated HB² PROJECTS in 2017, as a choreographic platform to expand her collaborations in performance. HB² has presented work throughout NYC as a resident artist for Visual Muze; Norte Maar’s Dance at Socrates Sculpture Park; and Exploring the Metropolis’ 2017-18 Choreographer + Composer Residency at Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning.

For Peggy Baker Dance Projects: Hilary performed in the durational work move for Nuit Blanche 2009 and as part of the multi gallery durational event interior with moving figures at the AGO in 2011.