TWYLA THARP
Since graduating from college in 1963, Twyla Tharp has choreographed more than
one hundred thirty-five dances, five Hollywood movies, directed and
choreographed three Broadway shows, written two books and received one Tony
Award, two Emmy Awards, nineteen honorary doctorates, the Vietnam Veterans of
America President's Award, the 2004 National Medal of the Arts and many grants
including the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellowship. She is a member of
the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and an Honorary Member of the American
Academy of Arts and Letters.
In 1965 Ms. Tharp founded her dance company, Twyla Tharp Dance. In addition to
choreographing for her own company, she has choreographed for many other
companies including: American Ballet Theatre, The Paris Opera Ballet, The Royal
Ballet, New York City Ballet, The Boston Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance and The
Martha Graham Dance Company.
Ms. Tharp's work first appeared on Broadway in 1980 with WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG,
followed in 1981 by her collaboration with David Byrne on THE CATHERINE WHEEL at
the Winter Garden. Her 1985 production of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN played at the
Gershwin and was followed by an extensive national tour. In 2002, Ms. Tharp?s
award-winning dance musical MOVIN' OUT set to the music and lyrics of Billy Joel
premiered at the Richard Rodgers and ran for three years. A national tour opened
in 2004 and also ran for three years. For MOVIN' OUT Ms. Tharp received the 2003
Tony Award, the 2003 Astaire Award, the Drama League Award for Sustained
Achievement in Musical Theater; and both the Drama Desk Award and the Outer
Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Choreography. For the London production Ms.
Tharp won Best Choreography (Musical Theatre) Award of the UK's Critics' Circle
National Dance Awards 2006. In 2006 Ms. Tharp worked with Bob Dylan?s music and
lyrics to create THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN? which played at the Brooks
Atkinson.
In film Ms. Tharp has collaborated with director Milos Forman on HAIR in 1978,
RAGTIME in 1980, and AMADEUS in 1984, with Taylor Hackford on WHITE NIGHTS in
1985 and with James Brooks on I'LL DO ANYTHING in 1994.
Her television credits include choreographing SUE'S LEG for the inaugural
episode of PBS' DANCE IN AMERICA, co-producing and directing MAKING TELEVISION
DANCE, which won the Chicago International Film Festival Award; and directing
THE CATHERINE WHEEL for BBC Television. Ms. Tharp co-directed the television
special BARYSHNIKOV BY THARP, which won two Emmy Awards as well as the Director's
Guild of America Award for Outstanding Director Achievement.
Since graduating from college in 1963, Twyla Tharp has choreographed more than
one hundred thirty-five dances, five Hollywood movies, directed and
choreographed three Broadway shows, written two books and received one Tony
Award, two Emmy Awards, nineteen honorary doctorates, the Vietnam Veterans of
America President's Award, the 2004 National Medal of the Arts and many grants
including the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellowship. She is a member of
the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and an Honorary Member of the American
Academy of Arts and Letters.
In 1965 Ms. Tharp founded her dance company, Twyla Tharp Dance. In addition to
choreographing for her own company, she has choreographed for many other
companies including: American Ballet Theatre, The Paris Opera Ballet, The Royal
Ballet, New York City Ballet, The Boston Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance and The
Martha Graham Dance Company.
Ms. Tharp's work first appeared on Broadway in 1980 with WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG,
followed in 1981 by her collaboration with David Byrne on THE CATHERINE WHEEL at
the Winter Garden. Her 1985 production of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN played at the
Gershwin and was followed by an extensive national tour. In 2002, Ms. Tharp?s
award-winning dance musical MOVIN' OUT set to the music and lyrics of Billy Joel
premiered at the Richard Rodgers and ran for three years. A national tour opened
in 2004 and also ran for three years. For MOVIN' OUT Ms. Tharp received the 2003
Tony Award, the 2003 Astaire Award, the Drama League Award for Sustained
Achievement in Musical Theater; and both the Drama Desk Award and the Outer
Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Choreography. For the London production Ms.
Tharp won Best Choreography (Musical Theatre) Award of the UK's Critics' Circle
National Dance Awards 2006. In 2006 Ms. Tharp worked with Bob Dylan?s music and
lyrics to create THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN? which played at the Brooks
Atkinson.
In film Ms. Tharp has collaborated with director Milos Forman on HAIR in 1978,
RAGTIME in 1980, and AMADEUS in 1984, with Taylor Hackford on WHITE NIGHTS in
1985 and with James Brooks on I'LL DO ANYTHING in 1994.
Her television credits include choreographing SUE'S LEG for the inaugural
episode of PBS' DANCE IN AMERICA, co-producing and directing MAKING TELEVISION
DANCE, which won the Chicago International Film Festival Award; and directing
THE CATHERINE WHEEL for BBC Television. Ms. Tharp co-directed the television
special BARYSHNIKOV BY THARP, which won two Emmy Awards as well as the Director's
Guild of America Award for Outstanding Director Achievement.