Bach Duet

Access the press release for The Joyce Theater engagement May 7-12, 2024

Access the program for The Joyce Theater, May 7-12, 2024.

TWYLA THARP (she/her) 
Since graduating from Barnard College in 1963, Ms. 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 Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and an Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

 In 1965, Ms. 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 – Ms. 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 Ms. Tharp’s works.

In 1992, Ms. 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.

Today, Ms. Tharp continues to create.

SHELLEY WASHINGTON (she/her)
Shelley Washington studied with Twyla Tharp at Wolftrap Academy, American University, before being invited to join Twyla Tharp Dance Company in 1975. She had previously danced as a member of the Martha Graham Dance Company. A graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, Ms. Washington furthered her training at the Juilliard School. In 1977, she performed in the film “Hair” and 1985 in “Singin’ in the Rain” on Broadway and served as Dance Captain for that Production. In 1987, she was honored with a Bessie Award for Outstanding Performance.

From 1988 to 1992, Ms. Washington joined the American Ballet Theater in Association with Twyla Tharp as a Soloist and Rehearsal Director. In 1993, she was the Rehearsal Director for Twyla Tharp’s “Cutting Up” tour starring Ms. Tharp and Mikhail Baryshnikov, Twyla Tharp and Dancers City Center Season in New York City and Tharp Dances’ International Tour. Ms. Washington continues to work with Ms. Tharp as a Repetiteur, Setting, Staging, and Directing Ballets for various companies, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theater, Australian Ballet, Ballet Austin, Ballet British Columbia, Ballet Rambert, Ballet San Jose, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Boston Ballet Company, Colorado Ballet, Dutch National, Gibney Company, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Joffrey Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company, Miami City Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet, The Royal Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Royal Swedish Ballet, Saint Louis Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, and Zurich Ballet.

In 2021, Shelley became a board member at The Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City.

To receive Gibney Company’s Technical Rider for Bach Duet, please reach out to Karen Kitchen, Executive Producer, at karen@gibneydance.org.