Trisha Brown

Definition

Trisha Brown is a pivotal figure in contemporary dance, known for her innovative choreography and contributions to the Judson Dance Theater movement. Her work emphasizes the integration of everyday movement with formal dance techniques, showcasing a playful and often site-specific approach to performance that challenges traditional norms of choreography.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Trisha Brown founded her own company, the Trisha Brown Dance Company, in 1970, which became a key platform for her innovative choreographic works.
2. Her choreography often features improvisational elements, allowing dancers to explore movement in new and spontaneous ways.
3. Brown's piece 'Man Walking Down the Side of a Building' exemplifies her interest in gravity and the physicality of movement, as it involved a dancer walking down a vertical surface.
4. She was heavily influenced by the visual arts and collaborated with prominent artists such as Robert Rauschenberg and Donald Judd to create multi-disciplinary works.
5. Trisha Brown received numerous awards throughout her career, including the MacArthur Fellowship in 1988, recognizing her significant impact on contemporary dance.

Review Questions

• How did Trisha Brown's work reflect the ideals of the Judson Dance Theater movement?
  • Trisha Brown's work embodies the principles of the Judson Dance Theater by challenging conventional dance forms and incorporating everyday movements into her choreography. She utilized improvisation and spontaneity, allowing her dancers to express themselves freely while exploring their physical capabilities. This approach aligned with the collective's focus on experimentation and redefining what dance could be, moving away from traditional narratives and aesthetics.
• Discuss the significance of site-specific performance in Trisha Brown's choreography and its impact on audience perception.
  • Site-specific performance is central to Trisha Brown's choreography, as she often creates works that engage directly with their environments. By choosing unconventional spaces for performances, she alters how audiences perceive movement and context. This approach invites viewers to consider how location influences both the physical execution of dance and their emotional response, fostering a deeper connection between the performance and its surroundings.
• Evaluate how Trisha Brown’s collaborations with visual artists influenced her choreographic style and contributed to the evolution of contemporary dance.
  • Trisha Brown's collaborations with visual artists brought a unique perspective to her choreography, blending movement with visual art concepts. This interplay not only expanded the boundaries of dance but also highlighted the aesthetic relationship between body and space. By integrating elements such as set design and multimedia into her performances, she encouraged audiences to engage with dance in a more holistic manner. This influence helped shape contemporary dance as an interdisciplinary art form, leading to greater experimentation and innovation within the field.

Related terms

Judson Dance Theater:

A collective of artists in the 1960s that revolutionized dance by promoting experimental practices and breaking away from classical forms.

Postmodern Dance: A genre that emerged in the mid-20th century, characterized by a departure from traditional dance conventions and an emphasis on individual expression and experimentation.

Site-Specific Performance: A performance created for a particular location, taking into account the environment and context to enhance the audience's experience.