Iconic Choreographer Twyla Tharp Brings 50th Anniversary Tour to Folsom

The word "legend" is almost too modest a word in describing Twyla Tharp. Over her storied career, Twyla Tharp has created over 160 dances across genres, choreographed for film (from Miloš Forman to James Brooks) and Broadway (with music ranging from Billy Joel to Bob Dylan). She's received a Tony Award, 19 honorary doctorates, a MacArthur Fellowship, among other honors (see below).

"These are unmistakably the work of a master. There is so much in them: so much variety, so much life" (New York Times, 9/20/15) Harris Center presents an evening of world-class dance as Twyla Tharp DANCE performs a range of work from Ms. Tharp's far-reaching career:Country Dances, which premiered 1976 in Edinburgh, Scotland; Beethoven Opus 130 which premiered 2016 in Saratoga Spring, New York and is performed to Opus 130 by Ludwig van Beethoven, and Brahms Paganini, which premiered 1980 in Dayton, Ohio and is performed toVariations on a Theme by Paganini, Opus 35 by Johannes Brahms.

Dancers include Matthew Dibble, Daniel Baker, Ron Todorowski, Ramona Kelley, Amy Ruggiero, Kaitlyn Gilliland and Reed Tankersley(Ramona Kelley and Reed Tankersley are from the San Francisco Bay Area).

Twyla Tharp DANCE will perform for one show only on Thursday, Oct 20, 2016, 7:30 pm.. Tickets are $39- $65, Premium $75 (Students with ID $25). Tickets are available online at www.harriscenter.net or from Harris Center Ticket Office at 916-608-6888 from 10 am to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday, and two hours before show time. Parking is included in the price of the ticket. Harris Center is located on the west side of Folsom Lake College campus in Folsom, CA, facing East Bidwell Street.

"[Twyla Tharp] is an American original. And, for all their hip edginess and carefree lines, her dances at once celebrate and create the best of the American dream. From Deuce Coupe to Push Comes to Shove, from Once More Frank to Hair and The Catherine Wheel, from Nine Sinatra Songs and Movin' Out to Americans We, the breathtaking In the Upper Room and beyond, Twyla Tharp has changed the face of American dance. With disarming brashness, she has been clear about her life's work. 'Modern dance is not less,' she has said, 'modern dance is more.' " (Kennedy Center Honors, 2008)

Since graduating from Barnard College in 1963, Ms. Tharp has choreographed more than one hundred sixty works: one hundred twenty-nine dances, twelve television specials, six Hollywood movies, four full-length ballets, four Broadway shows and two figure skating routines. She 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, the 2008 Jerome Robbins Prize, and a 2008 Kennedy Center Honor. Her many grants include 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. Her dances are known for creativity, wit and technical precision coupled with a streetwise nonchalance. By combining different forms of movement - such as jazz, ballet, boxing and inventions of her own making - Ms. Tharp's work expands the boundaries of ballet and modern dance.

In addition to choreographing for her own company, she has created dances for The Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, The Paris Opera Ballet, The Royal Ballet, New York City Ballet, The Boston Ballet, The Australian Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The Martha Graham Dance Company, Miami City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Atlanta Ballet and Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Today, ballet and dance companies around the world continue to perform Ms. Tharp's works.

In 1992, Ms. Tharp published her autobiography PUSH COMES TO SHOVE. She went on to write THE CREATIVE HABIT: Learn it and Use it for Life, followed by THE COLLABORATIVE HABIT: Life Lessons for Working Together.

Today, Ms. Tharp continues to create.

This Year Marks Six Seasons of Great Shows. Up Close. In Folsom!

The Harris Center for the Arts at Folsom Lake College brings the community together to share in cultural experiences featuring the work of artists from throughout the region and around the world. Built and operated by the Los Rios Community College District, the $50 million, state-of-the-art regional performing arts center boasts three intimate venues with outstanding acoustics, an art gallery, a recording studio, elegant teaching spaces, plenty of safe parking and all the other amenities of a world-class performing arts venue. Each year the Center hosts over 400 events attracting more than 150,000 annually.

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