“I learned very early that an audience would relax and look at things differently if they felt they could laugh with you from time to time. There's an energy that comes through the release of tension that is laughter.”

American dancer, choreographer, and author

Twyla Tharp is an American dancer, choreographer, and author based in New York City. Since 1965, she has shaped a long career in dance, first through her company Twyla Tharp Dance, which later merged with American Ballet Theatre in 1988 and was regrouped in 1991. Her choreography is known for drawing on classical, jazz, and contemporary pop music. Alongside her work in dance, she has also written books, extending her voice beyond the stage into the page.