413 Quotes by Twyla Tharp

That's what improvising is like for me. There's no tollbooth between my impulse and my action.

I used to say to myself, 'Well, in the old days everybody danced because they loved to dance, and there was none of this professional garbage going on about how much can you get for this or that or the other, or any of the kinds of things that insecurity can sometimes promote. Sometimes it's for the wrong reasons.'

I never studied with Balanchine, but his work was very important to me.

You don't have a really good idea until you combine two little ideas.

What is music about? You can't listen to one era, one composer, and know what music is about.

Every dance I make is a dive into this well of ancient memory.

Dance should not just divide people into audience and performers. Everyone should be a participant, whether going to classes or attending special events or rehearsals.

Destiny, quite often, is a determined parent. Mozart was hardly some naive prodigy who sat down at the keyboard and, with God whispering in his ears, let music flow from his fingertips. It's a nice image for selling tickets to movies, but whether or not God has kissed your brow, you still have to work. Without learning and preparation, you won't know how to harness the power of that kiss.

I have learned over the years that you should never save for two meetings what you can accomplish in one.