Twyla Tharp Quotes

Art is the only way to run away without leaving home.
Twyla Tharp

Art, Home, Leaving

Optimism with some experience behind it is much more energizing than plain old experience with a certain degree of cynicism.
Twyla Tharp

Experience, Old, Optimism

A lot of people insisted on a wall between modern dance and ballet. I'm beginning to think that walls are very unhealthy things.
Twyla Tharp

Dance, Between, Beginning

Any comic is a tragic soul. Comedy is one of the things that allows one to survive. Particularly if one has been in the process of separating off the emotions, it's one place you can process them.
Twyla Tharp

Soul, Place, Off

I often say that in making dances I can make a world where I think things are done morally, done democratically, done honestly.
Twyla Tharp

Done, Often, Making

It is extremely arrogant and very foolish to think that you can ever outwit your audience.
Twyla Tharp

Foolish, Audience, Arrogant

Dance has never been a particularly easy life, and everybody knows that.
Twyla Tharp

Life, Dance, Easy

I am fairly concise when I work and I work quickly because I think work is done better in a high gear than done our in a gear when everyone's exhausted. Get focused, do it!
Twyla Tharp

Work, Done, Everyone

I think people want very much to simplify their lives enough so that they can control the things that make it possible to sleep at night.
Twyla Tharp

Sleep, Control, Night

I think that anyone who's pushed to do the very best that they can is privileged. It's a luxury.
Twyla Tharp

Best, Anyone, Luxury

In terms of individuals who actually inspired me, very few of the academic people that I had access to had that power over me. Maybe it's simply because I wasn't that committed to geometry.
Twyla Tharp

Power, Few, Inspired

The necessity to constantly turn in an excellent performance, to be absolutely wedded to this dedication and this ideal means that as a child you're going to pay for it personally.
Twyla Tharp

Child, Means, Turn

Art is an investigation.
Twyla Tharp

I don't mean this, but I'm going to say it anyway. I don't really think of pop art and serious art as being that far apart.
Twyla Tharp

Art, Mean, Serious

I don't think politicians should be allowed into power who are not familiar with their bodies, because that's where our bottom line is. And I know that they would make totally different decisions if they felt responsible simply for their own bodies.
Twyla Tharp

Power, Different, Decisions

I have not wanted to intimidate audiences. I have not wanted my dancing to be an elitist form. That doesn't mean I haven't wanted it to be excellent.
Twyla Tharp

Mean, Wanted, Excellent

I have the wherewithal to challenge myself for my entire life. That's a great gift.
Twyla Tharp

Life, Great, Challenge

I learned very early that an audience would relax and look at things differently if they felt they could laugh with you from time to time. There's an energy that comes through the release of tension that is laughter.
Twyla Tharp

Time, Laughter, Laugh

I never studied with Balanchine, but his work was very important to me.
Twyla Tharp

Work, Important, Studied

I started formal piano training when I was 4. From there I had little violas, and I had dancing lessons of every sort and description, and painting lessons. I had German. And shorthand.
Twyla Tharp

Training, Started, Painting

I thought I had to make an impact on history. I had to become the greatest choreographer of my time. That was my mission. Posterity deals with us however it sees fit. But I gave it 20 years of my best shot.
Twyla Tharp

Time, Best, History

I was privileged to be able to study a year with Martha Graham, the last year she was teaching.
Twyla Tharp

Study, Able, Last

I work because I have issues and questions and feelings and thoughts that I want to have a look at. I'm not in need of, or wanting, particularly, to know what other folk are up to.
Twyla Tharp

Work, Feelings, Thoughts

I would have to challenge the term, modern dance. I don't really use that term in relation to my work. I simply think of it as dancing. I think of it as moving.
Twyla Tharp

Work, Moving, Challenge

I'm a known reader. That's what I do with my time.
Twyla Tharp

Time, Known, Reader

Share with your Friends

Everyone likes a good quote - don't forget to share.

Biography

Nationality: American

Type: Dancer

Born: July 1, 1941

Links

Find on Amazon: Twyla Tharp

Cite this Page: Citation

Popular Topics

Friendship Quotes

Motivational Quotes

Inspirational Quotes

Related Authors

Martha Graham
Isadora Duncan
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Alvin Ailey
Katherine Dunham
Agnes de Mille
Ruth St. Denis
More

Get Social with BrainyQuote

BrainyQuote Desktop

BrainyQuote Mobile

Site

Quote of the Day

Social

BQ on Pinterest

Syndication

Funny Quote Feed

Love Quote Feed

Nature Quote Feed

About Us