Master the Creative Process | Twyla Tharp

Twyla Tharp, a renowned choreographer and dancer, shares her insights into the creative process, emphasizing the pivotal roles of focus, discipline, and physicality in artistic work. Her approach underscores the interconnection between the strength of the mind and the body.

"Spine" Is Key for Focus in Creative Work

Tharp defines the "spine" as the central element that provides structure and purpose to a creative work. She likens it to the human spine as both a physical and metaphorical core that allows for concentration and coordination. Without a spine, Tharp insists that efforts can be aimless, and creative work becomes scattered and unproductive.

Discipline and Practice Are Key to Fostering Creativity

Consistency and Habits in Nurturing Artistic Endeavors

Tharp talks about the significance of discipline through consistently showing up and working, regardless of motivation. She emphasizes the importance of having a set schedule and structure, which can guide artists to nurture their creativity even when they might not feel like working. Tharp also alludes to her meticulous preparation and the maintenance of her own "physical instrument," indicating her disciplined approach to her craft.

She advises on the importance of forming a consistent writing habit, asserting that "If you don't work when you don't want to work, you're not going to be able to work when you do want to work." This disciplined practice not only makes room for artistic development but is crucial to maximizing productive time and avoiding wastefulness. Tharp describes her work ethic as all-consuming, stating that she works seven days a week and does not take weekends off.

Tharp's Approach Emphasizes Physicality and Movement

Strengthening the Body as Instrument

Tharp conveys the significance of physicality by detailing her own rigorous routine of being at the gym by 5 a.m. for two hours daily. The routine offers her a necessary challenge and prepares her for the creative demands of the day. She describes daily practicing exercises to set her physicality for the day, even though she finds it boring and loathsome, thus highlighting the fundamental role that physical preparedness plays in her creative process.

Dance and Movement as Vehicles for Creative Expression

Tharp speaks about the structured regimen of exercises—like those performed at the barre—that dancers undertake to strengthen their bodies for dance. This disciplined training serves to develop power in their legs and torso, essential for supporting weight while dancing en pointe or executing jumps. She points out that incremental gains in height during a jump are significant and reflect the dancer's increasing mastery over their mov ...

Twyla Tharp's upbringing and environment played a pivotal role in shaping her exceptional discipline, work ethic, sensitivity to nonverbal communication, and unique approach to expressing movement and physicality.

Tharp's Quaker Farm Upbringing Instilled Work Ethic and Community Sense

Farm Life Instilled Discipline, Persistence, and Teamwork In Tharp

Tharp's early years on a Quaker farm were integral to her development of a strong work ethic and a sense of community. She was trained to practice disciplined work habits, influenced by the Amish territory and a Quaker family ethos. Tharp reflects that farm life was directly connected with survival, with the straightforward rule of working to eat. Moreover, she notes the communal aspect of farm life, emphasizing mutual support and shared labor despite the physical isolation. This community-oriented mindset would later permeate her work philosophy.

Tharp's Exposure to Nonverbal Communication Heightened Her Sensitivity to Expressive Movement and Physicality

Tharp attended Quaker meetings which often involved silent reflection, where she observed a powerful form of nonverbal communication through collective focus on an event or catastrophe without the need for speech or sign language.

Background Shaped Tharp's Exploration of Body and Movement Communication

Drawn to the potency of unspoken understanding, Tharp's upbringing nurtured her attuneness to the nuances o ...

Twyla Tharp delves into the complex relationship between artists and their audiences and/or critics, discussing the challenges of evolving one's craft amid the pull of audience expectations and the nature of receiving criticism in a personal, creative profession.

Tharp Acknowledges Challenges In Navigating Criticism and Managing Standards as a Creative Professional

Balancing Objectivity With Passion in Creative Work

Tharp details the tension between being personally involved in one's art and the necessity of maintaining objectivity. She stresses the importance of being unemotional about the work to assess what it communicates to outsiders. Despite the difficulty, Tharp notes that stepping outside of the work and viewing it as an outsider is crucial.

Tharp Believes the Best Critics Ensure Artists Remain True to Their Evolving Vision

Tharp emphasizes the positive role critics can play in helping artists maintain authenticity and stay true to their identity. However, she warns against criticism that is motivated by clickbait or commercial interests rather than a genuine engagement with the art. Tharp suggests that good critics foster an artist's love for their work and help them manage the challenges of dealing with negative critiques.

She Is Wary of Criticism Motivated by Clickbait or Commercial Interests Over Genuine Artistic Engagement

Specifically, Tharp denounces criticisms aimed more at generating clicks or income for the critic than providing substantive feedback to the artist. She laments the change from the 1960s, when financial pressures were lower and allowed artists to experiment more freely.

Social Media and Competitive Training in the Arts May Push Performers to Prioritize Audience Appeal Over Technical Skill and Personal Expression, Notes Tharp

Trend May Undermine Artistic Integrity

Tharp critiques current trends in competitive training, particularly with young dancers in competitions. She notes that these competitions often encourage performers to prioritize audience manipulation over artistic integrity ...