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
ballet came classes dancers great maybe study took
At the ballet classes I took when I first came to New York, I would see great dancers like Cynthia Gregory and Lupe Serrano. I would look at them and study what they could do, and what I couldn't do. And then I'd think maybe they should try what I could do.
greatness missions choreographers
I had to become the greatest choreographer of my time. That was my mission, and that's what I set out to do.
mean greatness skills
Traveling the paths of greatness, even in someone else's footprints, is a vital means to acquiring skill.
fundamentals granted great-ones
The great ones never take fundamentals for granted.
challenges great-gifts
I have the wherewithal to challenge myself for my entire life. That's a great gift.
bob listened recordings
As is my wont, I did my research. I listened to all the recordings and I read everything about Bob I could find.
dance stupid thinking
It is extremely arrogant and very foolish to think that you can ever outwit your audience.
dream upside-down turns
In dreams, anything can be anything, and everybody can do. We can fly, we can turn upside down, we can transform into anything.
art dancing meaning serious toe
When I was a kid, toe dancing and toe shoes had a meaning in our culture as a serious kind of art.
courage
What we want from modern dance is courage and audacity.
I do at least 75 push-ups a day.
terrifying
Nothing is more terrifying to me, really, than the status quo. I'll make mistakes before I keep doing something the same way.
care english enjoy
I don't hate language. I have my own language, but I also enjoy the English language. Obviously, you don't read a lot of literature and not care about language.
figures guiding modern people spend
When I look at the people who are the guiding figures in modern dance, I think, 'This does not look to me like the way I want to spend my days.'