In Rethinking Viewpoint Theory, Christy-Ann Brown relates her encounter with the Six Viewpoints, founder Mary Overlie, and a number of key protagonists, during the 1990s and the early 2000s; as the theory is ascendant among directors and educators in the contemporary theater and dance scene internationally. Brown situates the birth of the viewpoints in the experiments of the Grand Union and Judson Dance Theater and in the allied musical and visual arts avant-gardes. She explicates the viewpoints individually and describes some of the practices employed in the pedagogy. Finally, Brown writes about her application of the Viewpoints to her own dance theater experiments of this period; a time of transition in her own life and work, with humility and vulnerability.
Andrew Marcus, founder of the School Of Disappearance, taught at the New York University Tisch School Of the Arts/Experimental Theater Wing Building on her own experience as an actor, dancer, and conceptual artist, Christy-Ann Brown manages to apply the foundational Viewpoints methodology to organize a surprising swath of avant-garde creative work over the past half-century. Brown begins by securely locating the essence of Viewpoints in the teachings of Mary Overlie, which serves as a wellspring for disciples and proteges and as the basis for so many working groups as institutions. Brown is able to create a sort of creative map that encompasses efforts as diverse as the movement explorations of Cunningham, the Judson Dance Theatre, and Grand Union; the stage work of the Experimental Theater Wing, Anne Bogart, and Mabou Mines; and the sound experiments of John Cage and Steve Reich. Finally, she demonstrates the application of the methodology to develop and perform a new piece of her own, in the face of physical and logistical challenges.
James Dowling, writer for Village Voice and Dance Magazine Online
For teachers, directors, practitioners, and students looking for an introduction to the background and underpinnings of Viewpoints, Christy Ann Brown's RETHINKING VIEWPOINT THEORY, is a valuable place to start. Focusing on the primary conceptualizer of Viewpoints, Mary Overlie, Brown breaks down the conceptual starting points for the components of viewpoints, their place in the world of post-modern art making, and examples of Overlie's approach to teaching a complex and nuanced way of approaching performance. Perhaps Brown, who, like Overlie was born and raised in Montana, has a unique grasp on Overlie's knack for, not just codifying practical explorations of time, space, and movement but for inspiring the deepest consideration of them. Montana, after all, is a place where simply walking out the door invites an overwhelming experience of time and space.
Charlie Oates, director, and movement coach, taught at UCSD
