Brian J Evans
Brian J. Evans is a dynamic professional performer, Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance at Saint Olaf College, and a celebrated Citizen Artist. With a career rooted in his passion for dance and social engagement, Evans blends artistic excellence with proactive community involvement.
Hailing from Gaylord, Minnesota, Evans' journey into dance began unexpectedly, discovering dance in college between choir, football, and social justice theater practices, leading to a distinguished career with Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater as a principal dancer and Music Director. As a freelancer, he has collaborated with the Flying Foot Forum, Shapiro and Smith Dance, Black Label Movement, Eclectic Edge Ensemble, and numerous other notable colleagues and friends. He has been honored with a Sage Award for Outstanding Dancer, a McKnight Dance Fellowship, and countless opportunities to perform and direct worldwide.
Evans holds a B.A. in the Liberal Arts from Gustavus Adolphus College and an MFA in Dance from the University of Washington, where he was honored with the Howard P. Dallas Endowed Fellowship for his contributions to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access within the arts. He began his academic career at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, as a Mellon Foundation Fellow, later transitioning into a tenure-track role as Assistant Professor. His teaching centered on the “embodied arts,” examining how the body shapes cognition, generates meaning, and deepens creative inquiry.
As a Citizen Artist, Evans is dedicated to fostering connections through courageous vulnerability and intentional equity, underscoring his belief in the transformative power of the arts to inspire resilience and societal change.