Twyla Tharp
Since graduating from Barnard College in 1963, Twyla Tharp has choreographed more than one hundred sixty works: one hundred twenty-nine dances, twelve television specials, six Hollywood movies, four full-length ballets, four Broadway shows and two figure skating routines. 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, the American Philosophical Society, and an Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She received the Golden Lion for her life's work at the 2025 Venice Dance Biennale.
In 1965, Tharp founded her dance company, Twyla Tharp Dance. Her dances are known for creativity, wit and technical precision coupled with a streetwise nonchalance. By combining different forms of movement – such as jazz, ballet, boxing and inventions of her own making – Tharp’s work expands the boundaries of ballet and modern dance.
In addition to choreographing for her own company, she has created dances for The Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, The Paris Opera Ballet, The Royal Ballet, New York City Ballet, The Boston Ballet, The Australian Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The Martha Graham Dance Company, Miami City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Atlanta Ballet and Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Today, ballet and dance companies around the world continue to perform Tharp’s works.
Tharp’s work first appeared on Broadway in 1980 with When We Were Very Young, followed by her collaboration with musician David Byrne on The Catherine Wheel and later by Singin’ in the Rain. In 2002, Tharp’s dance musical Movin’ Out, set to the music and lyrics of Billy Joel, premiered. Tharp later worked with Bob Dylan’s music and lyrics in The Times they are a-changin’ and Come fly away, set to songs sung by Frank Sinatra.
In film, Tharp has collaborated with director Milos Forman on Hair, Ragtime and Amadeus. She has also worked with Taylor Hackford on White Nights and James Brooks on I'll do Anything.
Her television credits include choreographing Sue’s Leg for the inaugural episode of PBS’ Dance in America in 1976, co-producing and directing Making Television Dance, and directing The Catherine Wheel for BBC Television. Tharp co-directed the television special Baryshnikov by Tharp.
In 1992, Tharp published her autobiography Push comes to shove. She went on to write The Creative Habit: Learn it and Use it for Life, followed by The Collaborative Habit: Life Lessons for Working Together. In 2019, her fourth book was published, Keep it moving: Lessons for the rest of your life.
The Vienna State Ballet performed Twyla Tharp’s The Brahms-Haydn Variations in 2010.
Performances with Twyla Tharp
Visionary Dances
Cast on Tuesday 14. April 2026
Abo 2
Ticket information
Einen Wochentag und Lieblingsplätze wählen und fünf Vorstellungen in einer Saison genießen.
In diesem Abo sind folgende Vorstellungen enthalten:
| 16. September 2025 | Iolanta |
| 03. März 2026 | Carmen |
| 14. April 2026 | Visionary Dances (Ballett) |
| 26. Mai 2026 | Les Pêcheurs de perles |
| 23. Juni 2026 | Animal Farm |
| 08. September 2026 | Adriana Lecouvreur |
| 10. November 2026 | La Fille du régiment |
| 12. Jänner 2027 | Fidelio |
| 27. April 2027 | Woolf Works |
| 22. Juni 2027 | I Capuleti e i Montecchi |
Visionary Dances
Cast on Friday 17. April 2026
Abo 8
Ticket information
Einen Wochentag und Lieblingsplätze wählen und fünf Vorstellungen in einer Saison genießen.
In diesem Abo sind folgende Vorstellungen enthalten:
| 03. Oktober 2025 | Fin de partie |
| 23. Jänner 2026 | Idomeneo |
| 20. Februar 2026 | Luisa Miller |
| 17. April 2026 | Visionary Dances (Ballett) |
| 22. Mai 2026 | Eugen Onegin |
| 02. Oktober 2026 | Tosca |
| 13. November 2026 | La Fille du régiment |
| 22. Jänner 2027 | Living Legacies |
| 19. Februar 2027 | Der Rosenkavalier |
| 16. April 2027 | Così fan tutte |
Visionary Dances
Cast on Saturday 13. March 2027
Ballettzyklus »Reise durch die Welt des Tanzes«
Ticket information
Werke bedeutender Choreografinnen und Choreografen führen durch die Tanzgeschichte – von Fokines Le Spectre de la Rose (1911) bis zu McGregors zeitgenössischem Yugen. Ein vielfältiges Spektrum der Ballettkunst erwartet Sie.
Visionary Dances
Cast on Tuesday 16. March 2027
Abo 4
Ticket information
Einen Wochentag und Lieblingsplätze wählen und fünf Vorstellungen in einer Saison genießen.
In diesem Abo sind folgende Vorstellungen enthalten:
| 28. Oktober 2025 | Kallirhoe (Ballett) |
| 25. November 2025 | Lucia di Lammermoor |
| 23. Dezember 2025 | Elektra |
| 17. März 2026 | Madama Butterfly |
| 16. Juni 2026 | Animal Farm |
| 29. September 2026 | La clemenza di Tito |
| 22. Dezember 2026 | Les Pêcheurs de perles |
| 16. März 2027 | Visionary Dances |
| 04. Mai 2027 | Carmen |
| 01. Juni 2027 | Arabella |
Visionary Dances
Cast on Monday 22. March 2027
Abo 13
Ticket information
Einen Wochentag und Lieblingsplätze wählen und fünf Vorstellungen in einer Saison genießen.
In diesem Abo sind folgende Vorstellungen enthalten:
| 08. September 2025 | Otello |
| 06. Oktober 2025 | Fin de partie |
| 10. November 2025 | Kallirhoe (Ballett) |
| 23. März 2026 | Die verkaufte Braut |
| 15. Juni 2026 | Così fan tutte |
| 19. Oktober 2026 | Il barbiere di Siviglia |
| 30. November 2026 | Luisa Miller |
| 18. Jänner 2027 | Fidelio |
| 22. Februar 2027 | Norma |
| 22. März 2027 | Visionary Dances |
Visionary Dances
Cast on Tuesday 30. March 2027
Abo 1
Ticket information
Einen Wochentag und Lieblingsplätze wählen und fünf Vorstellungen in einer Saison genießen.
In diesem Abo sind folgende Vorstellungen enthalten:
| 30. September 2025 | Fin de partie |
| 30. Dezember 2025 | Fidelio |
| 24. März 2026 | La Clemenza di Tito |
| 21. April 2026 | Simon Boccanegra |
| 02. Juni 2026 | Manon (Ballett) |
| 06. Oktober 2026 | Eine florentinische Tragödie/Herzog Blaubarts Burg |
| 03. November 2026 | L'Orfeo |
| 29. Dezember 2026 | La Damnation de Faust |
| 30. März 2027 | Visionary Dances |
| 15. Juni 2027 | I Capuleti e i Montecchi |
Visionary Dances
Cast on Monday 5. April 2027