Twyla Tharp - More on The Creative Act

Online Video is Set to Transform the Performing Arts and Twyla Tharp Will be Major Force

I spent this past week with the celebrated choreographer Twyla Tharp in her Manhattan studio.

We taped a performance, reviewed archival materials and spent time about talking about video, the Internet and creativity.

She is one of the most celebrated artists of our time -- a pioneering choreographer and dancer. She has created scores of dances and performed around the globe since the sixties. She has become more popularly known in recent years from her Tony Award-winning "Movin' Out" show.

This year, her ballets will be performed by the Bolshoi, the ABT, the Miami Ballet and Seattle Ballet.

She has written an inspiring book about creativity titled the Creative Habit -- and speaks with businesses people about how to apply discipline to the creative process.

She has so much insight, inspiration and artistry to share with us.

In our first segment, Tharp shares a fascinating story and unseen footage of her use of a reel-to-reel video camera some 35 years ago. The taping was done in the attic of her farmhouse. She taped herself, pregnant at the time. She created elements that would be later used in one of her most celebrated dances, the "Baker's Dozen." Video can evoke unexplored memories. (She frames this in a literary metaphor about cookies from Proust.)

She has long believed that video and dance are essential partners. She sees the utility of video for many things -- as workbook, art medium and a notation system for choreography. She is now exploring the impact of of dance through online video.

She and her son Jesse Huot have digitized a vast archives of dance archives from rehearsals to performances. Our cultural lives will be in richer as more of this material becomes available. I am pleased to share some of these archives publicly, on Beet.TV, for the first time.

The appreciation of the performing arts will explode with Internet video. It's already starting to happen. YouTube, Google, Revver and other video sites are hosting wonderful ballet, opera, jazz, independent cinema and world music and dance of a vast variety.

See this video on Beet.TV:
http://www.beet.tv/2007/01/twyla_thar...

One of My Muses - Author of The Creative Habit

Beware of Hype and Stay Focused and Learn to Be Creative, Says Dance Great Twyla Tharp

Twyla Tharp is the most celebrated choreographers of her generation. She happens to be a very compelling writer on the subject of motivation and creativity.

Her book The Creative Habit is handbook in personal discipline and creative growth. Twyla is evangelist for her body of work. In addition to choreographing new ballets, she is motivational speaker at organizations including NASA and GE.

She told me that creativity must be a personal undertaking -- and it can't be constructed for fame and fortune -- it needs to done as serious and honest work -- and if it succeeds, the money and accolades will come.

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