1. Twyla Tharp 1941-

2. *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 Graham’s studio. *After graduation, she trained under Merce Cunningham and joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company from 1963-1965.

3. *In 1965 she married visual artist Bob Hust and through him was introdced to New York’s 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 1970’s.

4. *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.