The Twyla Tharp Dance Company stands among the most famous dance companies in this country – among those by Paul Taylor, Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham and Jose Limon – on the strength of its renowned leader. Tharp is 75 years old and her company is 50, and it’s coming to Carmel to perform a kind of retrospective celebration.
There’s plenty to celebrate. According to a press release, Tharp is responsible for choreographing more than 160 works – 129 dances, 12 television specials, six Hollywood movies, four full-length ballets, four Broadway shows, and two figure-skating routines.
She uses movements from boxing, jazz and ballet, set to a sunny disposition. One of her pieces is Movin’ Out from 2002, a Broadway musical set to music by Billy Joel, for which she won a Tony for Best Choreography. That’s a prime example of her accessible and crowdpleasing work (as opposed to, say, Martha Graham’s intense and arty style).
In Movin’ Out, one dancer wears cargo pants and a colorful tank top, does the moonwalk and plays air guitar, while the guys and gals dance with the jubilation of Footlooseand West Side Story. Tharp has done similar treatments with Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys and Bob Dylan.
But this isn’t a greatest-hits parade. The company is bringing two pieces from their repertoire, 1976’s quartet “Country Dances” and 1980’s sextet “Brahms Paganini,” and a new number, an octet, “Beethoven Opus 130.”
In an email, dancer Reed Tankersley – a Bay Area native, Juilliard graduate, and the youngest member of Twyla Tharp Dance – describes the program: “‘Country Dances’ is set to country music and has a theatrical character-driven vibe, ‘Beethoven opus 130’ is a new piece and is very technical with a loose narrative to be interpreted by the viewer, and ‘Brahms Paganini’ is a tour de force of virtuosity and efficiency.”
He suggests audiences watch for quick entrances and exits, and the intricacy of the partnering. But, he adds, ultimately the most rewarding approach is to “go into each without expectations.”
To celebrate Carmel’s 100th anniversary, the Sunset Center is holding an opening reception 5-7pm, prior to the performance, for two historical art exhibits. Then, at 7pm, they open the Sunset Center lobby and hand out sparkling wine and Marich chocolates. This should help audiences go into the dance performance primed to smile even bigger.
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