"The Viewpoints Project" at Elon University (2011)

In February 2011, after 3 weeks of training in the Viewpoints method for actors, an ensemble of 9 students shared their artistic journey through a live performance at Elon University.
'The Viewpoints Project' was the culmination of Ross Denyer's Elon College Fellows undergraduate research project, inspired by the training he explored with Anne Bogart and the SITI Company in the summer of 2009.

[@CupOfJoe247]

I am currently learning this in my theatre class at the Fine Arts Center of Greenville, SC. My teacher, Teri Parker Lewis, was also a student of Anne Bogart at the SITI Co. in New York. I love viewpoints. We did a lot of the same exercises today. It is an outstanding art form. Then in the spring, we are going to practice Suzuki.

[@RossDenyer]

Hey Rachel, thanks for commenting! I live in LA and I'd love to check out your theatre company. It's always a pleasure to meet and work with people that appreciate this process - it's the kind of ensemble-building so many rehearsal spaces and film-sets often lack. Anyway, I'd love to talk more and maybe see a show!

[@Vonbomb]

Thanks for this. Super helpful

[@RossDenyer]

Hi arleonn, thanks for reaching out, I'm glad the video was helpful. As for recommended reading, I suggest going straight to the source - check out Anne Bogart's "The Viewpoints Book" on Amazon (I structured most of my workshop teaching around it). Anne Bogart and the SITI Company are very active in teaching and training. Visit www.SITI.org for more about them. -Ross

[@justme13824]

It's a great project!Congratulations!

[@RossDenyer]

Thanks, Alexandru! I'm very happy with how it turned out.

[@esthaernattallie126]

hi ross. im from Malaysia and I do research about viewpoints exercise , and I only choose 3 viewpoints which is tempo, kinesthetic response and gestures. can you recommend me what type of exercise suitable for three of this viewpoints ? looking forward your reply! thanks!

[@isobelmackinnon8129]

Hi Ross, I'm curious as to how the palette of movement began very simply (stop, walk, run) and expanded to encompass a much more diverse palette (jumping, creeping, touching,extended arms, bowing etc). Were these options of movement things you introduced over time, or did they occur spontaneously as the exercise went on?

[@RossDenyer]

Isobel MacKinnon Hi Isobel, thanks for connecting, I'm happy to answer any of your questions! This performance was the culmination of several weeks of teaching, in which I introduced the various "viewpoints" one at a time, mirroring (as closely as possible) the training I had received from Anne Bogart and the SITI Company. At this points, all the performers had been equipped with a "vocabulary" to draw from, and Viewpoints is all about responding to the impulses of the group in the moment, so yes, a great deal of spontaneity is involved! The performers didn't have very many hours of training compared to what I had, and I was a very inexperienced teacher, so their choices might have been more "fluent" given more time and teaching. I hope that answers your question, if not let me know and I can try and go into more detail. If you're not already familiar, I'd highly recommend reading up about "The Flow" in Viewpoints. It's kind of a default, go-to for starting a training session, and can serve as a foundation for more complex choices further on.

[@arleonnVid]

Hi, as a student I've been trying to understand Viewpoints, so I am grateful for finding this tonight. Would you recommend any good - yet easy to understand - book, or even website to read about this technique. Interested in both theory and practice - I would like to explore everything, from history and purpose to practising myself. Any comment would be helpful, thanks for uploading this. :)

[@RossDenyer]

+arleonn I responded to this 6months ago but realize that you weren't tagged in the reply! In case you never saw it (and are still interested), here's what I wrote: "Hi arleonn, thanks for reaching out, I'm glad the video was helpful. As for recommended reading, I suggest going straight to the source - check out Anne Bogart's "The Viewpoints Book" on Amazon (I structured most of my workshop teaching around it). Anne Bogart and the SITI Company are very active in teaching and training. Visit www.SITI.org for more about them. -Ross"

[@kmwmezzo]

:) Hi! Is there a network of teachers of this method that you know of? Interested in learning, but can't seem to find a teacher/program near Los Angeles...

[@RossDenyer]

+kelsey wood Hi Kelsey! LA doesn't have as many options as NYC for Viewpoints training, but I can recommend Fugitive Kind Theatre (one of their founders, Rachel Grate, commented on this video). Here's the link to their Viewpoints training - fugitivekind.org/classes/

[@SaddyBobaLegs]

i love viewpointing! my theatre company out here in LA (Fugitive Kind, if ur curious or in the area and wanna check us out!) use this for almost every production INCLUDING MacBeth! :-)

[@laurenmemery]

This is so cool. I was taught viewpoints by Amanda McRaven! I was watching this vid because I go to Elon, but saw you mentioned Fugitive Kind and remembered Amanda! Small world!

[@teapots4103]

Should've worn all black...

[@RossDenyer]

Why do you say that, Teapot?

[@teapots4103]

it's "usually the standard" in theatre classes... (quasi pretentious lol) but it helps with seeing line, creates an ensemble, it's neutral.

[@RossDenyer]

Teapot S Haha, that makes sense. I remember telling the students to wear solid color t-shirts. I liked the idea because it wasn't too distracting (patterns/logos/etc), allowing for a balance of uniformity and individualism. I'd like to think that echos what Anne Bogart said about during a viewpoints session there's an opportunity for everyone to have their "ensemble performance and their solo dance".

[@milateiakinhagabisub]

neautrality does not exist...

[@sherilynl4038]

i like the color. it adds another dimension of interest in the piece. there is unity in all black bottoms and solid colored tops. "standard" rules can be re interpreted, in my opinion, to create the piece in it's uniqueness

[@ruzickaw]

training 3 weeks to produce such a por stuff? Kick out the teacher