Trisha Brown

Brown, Trisha, 1936–, American modern dancer and choreographer, b. Aberdeen, Wash. After studying dance at Mills College (B.A., 1958), she moved to New York, where, as a founding member (1962) of the innovative and influential Judson Dance Theater, she was at the center of American avant-garde dance. In 1970, Brown formed her own company. Her early works were experimental, often utilizing "equipment" such as ropes and pulleys or set in unusual locations such as rooftops, rafts, and the sides of buildings. Extremely inventive, Brown is noted for a choreography of pure movement employing a rigorous formal structure, and she frequently works in dance cycles. Since 1979, Brown has collaborated with numerous contemporary artists, among them Robert Rauschenberg, Laurie Anderson, and John Cage. Her best-known ballets include Line Up (1977), the postmodern classic Set and Reset (1983), M.O. (1995), and the jazz-based El Trilogy (2000). She also has designed, directed, and choreographed opera productions, e.g., Monteverdi's Orfeo (1999).