DAN302_ADavis

TWYLA THARP By: Azure Davis DAN 302

Personal Background ■

Born July 1, 1941 in Portland, Indiana.

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Grew up in Portland and in Rialto, California

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Tharp began her first dance lessons at the Ver Lynn School of Dance in San Bernardino, California

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Attended Pomona College as a freshman to continue her dance training with Wilson Morelli and John Butler.

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Sophomore year, she transferred to Barnard College in New York City

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studied ballet with Igor Schwezoff at the American Ballet Theater, then with Richard Thomas and his wife, Barbara Fallis.

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Studied with Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, and Eugene Lewis.

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Graduated from Barnard College in 1963 with a degree in art history.

Professional Background ■

Made her professional debut that year with the Paul Taylor dance company. At age twenty-three

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She formed her own company, Twyla Tharp Dance Company, and began experimenting with movement in an improvisational manner

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In 1979, she choreographed the dances for Miloš Forman’s film version of the ’60s rock musical Hair

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In the late 1980s, Tharp continued to create ballets at a slightly less hectic pace than before, while her past works became a staple of ballet companies around the world

The Golden Section • Premiered - November 8, 1983 with Twyla Tharp Dance Company in Austin, TX at the University of Texas Bass Concert Hall • In “The Golden Section”, dancers wear athletic outfits, that help the audience to think of them as humans. The choreography bursts with momentum and it contains intricate movement that travels them across the entire stage. This ballet reflects Twyla Tharp’s choreographic style because she is known for developing a unique style that merged ballet and modern dance techniques. The partnering done in this piece is difficult, and the dancers show their faith in one another by taking risks, knowing that their partners will be there to catch them.

■ This article is a review of the ballet I chose to represent my choreographer, “The Golden Section”. The piece is described as the "the wing ballet", because the offstage maneuvers also had to be choreographed. Twyla Tharp’s choreographic style is labeled energetic and full of risk. "The Golden Section" is said to be a 15-minute apotheosis in which gold-clad dancers fizz and fly like an explosion of fireworks.

■ https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/arts-variations-on-a-theme-oftharp-1091377.html

From researching Twyla Tharp, the most valuable thing she has taught me is to be dedicated to creativity. She has written books and talked about ways to keep your creative mind active at all times. Her many methods have helped me to remain in a creative mindset in this unideal time.