“When I started thinking seriously about learning the rules of narrative, I thought, 'You've learned the rules of dancing from the ballet; what's the matter with learning the laws of theater from the people who know how to do it?'”

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.