Watch In the Steps of Trisha Brown

In the Steps of Trisha Brown is a documentary film about the life and work of renowned choreographer and dancer Trisha Brown. The film takes us on a journey through Brown's early life and career, exploring her innovative approach to movement and her impact on the world of contemporary dance. The film begins with Brown's childhood in rural Aberdeen, Washington, where she first discovered dance through her local community center. From there, we follow her to New York City, where she became part of the avant-garde dance scene of the 1960s and 70s. Through interviews with Brown's collaborators, friends, and family, we get a sense of the creative energy and experimentation that characterized this period, and the ways in which Brown helped to shape it.

One of the key themes of the film is Brown's interest in exploring the relationship between movement and gravity. We see examples of this in some of her most iconic works, such as "Walking on the Wall" and "Falling Duet," which use unusual surfaces and supports to create new possibilities for movement. Brown was also fascinated by the interplay between the body and the environment, and much of her work takes place in outdoor spaces, where the dancers are able to engage with the natural world in new and unexpected ways.

Another important aspect of Brown's work was her commitment to collaboration. She founded the Trisha Brown Company in 1970, and over the course of her career worked with a wide range of artists and musicians, from Robert Rauschenberg to Laurie Anderson. In the Steps of Trisha Brown explores some of the key partnerships that shaped Brown's work, and shows how her collaborative approach helped to break down traditional boundaries between different art forms.

The film also touches on some of the challenges and controversies that Brown faced over the course of her career. One of the most significant of these was her decision to shift away from traditional narrative structures in her choreography, a move that was seen as radical and controversial at the time. Some critics accused her of abandoning the expressive potential of dance in favor of abstraction and formalism. However, as the film makes clear, Brown remained committed to her vision of dance as a form of pure physical expression, and her work continued to evolve and inspire throughout her long and prolific career.

Overall, In the Steps of Trisha Brown is a fascinating and engaging documentary that offers an in-depth look at one of the most important figures in contemporary dance. Through interviews, archival footage, and performances of some of Brown's most iconic works, the film captures the spirit of innovation and experimentation that defined her career, and shows how her work continues to influence and inspire dancers and artists around the world today. So, if you are a fan of contemporary dance or interested in the life and work of Trisha Brown, this is definitely a film worth watching.

In the Steps of Trisha Brown is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 19 minutes.