Twyla Tharp
Twyla Tharp
Twyla Tharpis an American dancer, choreographer, and author who lives and works in New York City. In 1966, she formed her own company Twyla Tharp Dance. Her work often utilizes classical music, jazz, and contemporary pop music...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionDancer
Date of Birth1 July 1941
CityPortland, IN
CountryUnited States of America
truth
The only way to know the truth of a movement is to do it on your own body.
learned novels tolstoy
I've read probably 25 or 30 books by Balzac, all of Tolstoy - the novels and letters - and all of Dickens. I learned my craft from these guys.
dancer desire forget modern skill
Desire is the first thing a modern dancer should have. Skill can be developed. But if you don't have desire as a modern dancer, forget it.
critics looked simply
Critics should be looked at simply as commentators.
component
Counterpoint is a component that gives real energy, and it is about optimism.
Broadway has some very tight expectations as to what a show is.
breed women
Balzac loved courtesans. They were independent women, and in the 19th century, that was a breed that was just evolving.
hard work
It's very important to work myself physically as hard as I can.
In circuses, there is a lot of magic. Things become other things.
business existing
I don't judge. Judgment is not my business. Existing is my business.
included pops
Everything present is included in the past somewhere; nobody's present pops out of nowhere.
attending audience classes divide people whether
Dance should not just divide people into audience and performers. Everyone should be a participant, whether going to classes or attending special events or rehearsals.
music
What is music about? You can't listen to one era, one composer, and know what music is about.
danced days everybody garbage kinds none wrong
I used to say to myself, 'Well, in the old days everybody danced because they loved to dance, and there was none of this professional garbage going on about how much can you get for this or that or the other, or any of the kinds of things that insecurity can sometimes promote. Sometimes it's for the wrong reasons.'