The Auditorium Theatre is proud to be one of five co-commissioners, along withThe Ravinia Festival, of Twyla Tharp’s 50th Anniversary Tour. The program presentstwo world premieres that commemorates Tharp’s five decades of dance-making for both modern dance and ballet companies, television, the Broadway stage, and Hollywood films. The group of performers is comprised of 12 dancers, many of whom have worked with Tharp over the years, with music by J.S. Bach, Henry Butler, Steve Bernstein, and John Zorn. Join the Auditorium in celebrating one of the most iconic choreographers of our time.

The double bill of premieres begins with a vibrant introductory FANFARE followed byPRELUDES AND FUGUES, set to J.S. Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier. The dance radiates with Tharp’s generous spirit, humanity, and rigor. YOWZIE, the second premiere, is a humorous work set to a wild, raucous, and jazzy score. With immaculate technique and joy, Tharp’s hand chosen and meticulously rehearsed group brings her choreography to life. In each premiere, Tharp turns her decades of experience—dances for Hollywood films, television, and the Broadway stage, ballets, modern dances—into living proof that time is her partner as she continues to deepen and expand her singular imagination.

 

Made possible by the NEW ENGLAND FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS’ NATIONAL DANCE PROJECT, with lead funding from the DORIS DUKE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION and THE ANDREW W. MELLON FOUNDATION, with additional support from the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.