Renowned Dancer/Choreographer Twyla Tharp to Speak at Harlem School of the Arts

The Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) will host a conversation with Twyla Tharp, the much celebrated dancer/choreographer and founder of Twyla Tharp Dance.

This important evening is part of the ARTMakers series, featuring in-depth conversations with notable figures in the arts and creative space about their lives, influences and contributions. This also marks the beginning of a significant collaborative relationship between HSA and Ms. Tharp.

"I am very pleased to be engaging with the students and community of the Harlem School of the Arts for this exciting event," said Ms. Tharp.

For over 50-years, Twyla Tharp has been a leading force in the world of dance, changing the rules of movement, influencing style, pushing boundaries, developing new masterpieces, collaborating with the very best in the world of dance, theatre, film and television - and in the process, she has taught us that going against the grain and being different was "cool".

"We're so happy to have Ms. Tharp participate in the creative life of our school and community," said Alfred Preisser, Artistic Director, HSA. "This has been a year in which HSA took a big step forward in becoming a cultural hub and center for the performing and visual arts, and having Ms. Tharp create work here is an exciting part of that."

A conversation with Twyla Tharp is in line with HSA's on-going commitment to transforming the organization into an active cultural center progression. Providing artistic enrichment and development to the students participating in HSA's unique list of programs, is only one of its founding principles; expanding opportunities for engagement with the community and the public-at-large through programs like the ARTMakers series, is another.

A Conversation with Twyla Tharp is FREE and open to the public, and will take place on May 23rd, 7:30pm, HSA Gallery, 645 St. Nicholas Avenue, NYC.

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, five Hollywood movies, four full-length ballets, four Broadway shows and two figure skating routines. She has also written three books. 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 addition to choreographing for her own company Twyla Tharp Dance, she has created dances for companies worldwide, where her works continue to be performed. Today, Ms. Tharp continues to create.

Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) enriches the lives of young people and their families through world-class training in and exposure to the arts across multiple disciplines in an environment that emphasizes rigorous training, stimulates creativity, builds self-confidence, and adds a dimension of beauty to their lives. HSA achieves its Mission on-site at The Herb Alpert Center by offering high quality, affordable, arts training in dance, music, theatre, and visual art to ethnically and socio-economically diverse young people aged 2-18; by providing financial aid and merit scholarships to those who need it most; and by developing key partnerships with other cultural institutions, colleges/universities, and conservatories to prepare our aspiring pre-professional students at the highest possible level.