Twyla Tharp Lecture/Cal Performances Series
Hosted by Laura Abrams (October 4 and 25) and Susan Hoffman (November 8)
For more than four decades, Twyla Tharp has been a phenomenon in American dance. She has merged jazz, ballet and modern dance with a flair for postmodernism and surrealism. In this fall session of OLLI, members will have a chance to see three acclaimed American ballet companies perform her work at Zellerbach Hall --the Joffrey Ballet/Deuce Coupe, Miami City Ballet/Nine Sinatra Songs and In the Upper Room, and the American Ballet Theatre/Baker's Dozen and Sinatra Suite. The course will include a guest lecture by biographer Marcia Siegel, a backstage tour, and 50% discount for selected performances presented by Cal Performances.
Elizabeth ZimmerWhirlwind Out of California: Twyla Tharp's Early Years
October 4
Dance journalist Elizabeth Zimmer presents an exploration of Tharp's youth, training, and early experiments up through the premiere of Deuce Coupe by the Joffrey Ballet in 1973.
Janice RossTharp's Images of Romance
October 25
Taking her theme from works being performed by Miami City Ballet, In the Upper Room and Nine Sinatra Songs, dance historian Janice Ross will discuss Tharp's canon of romantic dances.
Marcia B. SiegelBaker's Dozen and the Sinatra Series
November 8 (1:45-3:15 p.m.)
In conjunction with the American Ballet Theatre program, dance journalist and Twyla Tharp biographer Marcia B. Siegel will discuss Baker's Dozen as an example of Tharp's fusion style and the history of her four works set to music by Frank Sinatra.
Thursdays, October 4, 25, November 8 (3 classes)
Location: Alumni House