Twyla Tharp

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Twyla Tharp

• 1941-

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Born in Realto California. Learned tap,
ballet,acrobatics,baton, flamenco,drums, violin,
music theory, painting, short hand, German, and
French at the age of four. she began Barnard
college as a pre-med major. After one year she
began studying classical ballet at the American
Ballet Theater School and modern dance at Martha
Grahams studio. After graduation, she trained
under Merce Cunningham and joined the Paul Taylor
Dance Company from 1963-1965.
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In 1965 she married visual artist Bob Hust and
through him was introdced to New Yorks avant
garde art world and the Judson dance
theater. When she formed her company, her first
dances used only 3 basic steps or were based on
mathematical formulas. They were performed in
darkness with only flashlights for lighting. The
stage was bare and there was no music. She got
tired with the minimalist approach and soon
dancers were wearing attractive costumes and
dancing to lively music. Company became more
popular and better received. But in 1977 and
1978 she took time off to work on the movie
Hair Choreographer of the 1970s.
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Used popular upbeat music. Now interested in
gymnastics. Let go of weight-allow self to fall
off balance, Concerned with time and
space. Famous dance When Push Comes to
shove. Choreographer of the movie White
Nights. Choreographer of the Broadway show Movin
out.