Twyla Tharp Dance Diamond Jubilee
Twyla Tharp celebrates her 60th anniversary with a Coast-to-Coast tour featuring her Olivier-nominated Diabelli Variations, set to Beethoven’s masterpiece of the same name, and a new dance to a reimagining of Philip Glass’s iconic “Aguas da Amazonia.” Showcasing Tharp’s uncanny and witty use of music to create work of startling originality and beauty, the two dances once again ensure Tharp’s place as one of the great artists of our time. The first and only choreographer to take on the intensely demanding and demonically complex Diabelli Variations, Tharp makes visible the elegant humor and depth of the composer’s layered genius. With each section of the Beethoven, unique in mood and texture, Tharp’s response—tender, teasing, transcendent, cheeky— commands all of its performers’ technical prowess—and energy—as they change effortlessly from ballet, to jazz, to modern, with unexpected bits of social and street dance for good measure. Almost two centuries later in years and spirit is Philip Glass’s “Aguas da Amazonia,” arranged and recorded by members of Third Coast Percussion in close collaboration with Tharp, performed on a unique collection of custom-designed percussion instruments. This groundbreaking evening is not one to be missed and is sure to dazzle audiences with its stellar dancing and phenomenal musicianship.