Overview
Elizabeth Streb, an extreme action choreographer, recounts her experience performing Trisha Brown’s 1970 piece "Man Walking Down the Side of a Building," sharing insights into the physical and conceptual challenges of the work.
Background of the Piece
- "Man Walking Down the Side of a Building" was created by Trisha Brown in 1970 and originally performed in SoHo.
- The concept involves rotating gravity 90 degrees, remaining parallel to the ground while walking down a wall.
- Trisha Brown's work explored new approaches to gravity, support, and movement in dance.
Physical and Conceptual Challenges
- Elizabeth prepared physically, expecting intense muscular effort similar to gym workouts.
- Actual experience differed; maintaining balance was highly precarious and disorienting.
- Every movement shifted her center of gravity, causing unpredictable swinging motions.
- As she descended, the pendulum effect became more pronounced and difficult to control.
- The harness required to stay secure was extremely tight and uncomfortable.
Personal Reflections on the Performance
- The hardest aspect was waiting to begin while enduring numbness in her legs.
- Each attempt to walk down the wall felt unfamiliar and uniquely challenging.
- The process deconstructed her understanding of walking and movement in unexpected ways.
Impact of Trisha Brown’s Work
- Trisha Brown’s choreography prompts reconsideration of movement foundations by altering physical contexts.
- Streb admires how Brown's work redefines questions about movement and challenges traditional balance assumptions.