Dance Pioneer Twyla Tharp to Speak at Manhattanville College

From Manhattanville College:

Celebrated choreographer and American dance pioneer Twyla Tharp will be the third speaker at this season’s Manhattanville College’s popular Castle Conversations lecture series on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at 8 p.m.

Other speakers at the regional forum, intended to engage and challenge audiences in Westchester and Fairfield counties, have included such influential thought leaders as political analyst David Brooks and Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak. Appearing later in November will be restaurateur Danny Meyer.

Tharp founded Twyla Tharp Dance company in 1965, and gained international recognition for expanding the boundaries of artistic forms of movement -- combining jazz, ballet, boxing, and inventions of her own making. In 1973, Tharp choreographed Deuce Coupe to the music of The Beach Boys for the Joffrey Ballet, a work considered to be the first “crossover” ballet.

Tharp’s oeuvre is expansive. She has choreographed 129 dances, 12 television specials, six Hollywood movies, four full-length ballets, four Broadway shows, and two figure skating routines. She has received a Tony Award, two Emmy Awards, 19 honorary doctorates, the Vietnam Veterans of America President’s Award, the 2004 National Medal of the Arts, the 2008 Jerome Robbins Prize, and the 2008 Kennedy Center Honor.

Tharp has created dances for the American Ballet Theatre, The Paris Opera Ballet, The Royal Ballet, New York City Ballet, The Boston Ballet, and many others. Her works are performed around the world today.

Elliott Forrest, the Afternoon Drive host on WQXR radio and WQXR.org will be the conversation host. Tickets are $75 and available to purchase on the Castle Conversations website.

About Manhattanville College

Manhattanville College is an independent, co-educational liberal arts institution dedicated to academic excellence, and social and civic action. Manhattanville prepares students to be ethical and socially responsible leaders in a global community. Located just 30 minutes from New York City, Manhattanville serves 1,800 undergraduate students and 1,100 graduate students from more than 45 countries and 40 states. Founded in 1841, the College offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate areas of study in the arts and sciences, education business, creative writing, as well as continuing and executive education programs.

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Image via Manhattanville College