We could have easily become absorbed by the tragedy, lost in it and paralyzed by it, but what came back to us was the instinct to dance. I began as a dancer, and in those days of pain and shock I went back to where I started. Creating dance is the thing I know best. It is how I recognize myself.
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Twyla Tharp
Twyla Tharp (/ˈtwaɪlə θɑːrp/; born July 1, 1941) is an American dancer, choreographer, and author who lives and works in New York City. In 1966, she formed her own company Twyla Tharp Dance. Her work often uses classical music, jazz, and contemporary pop music. From 1971 to 1988, Twyla Tharp Dance toured extensively around the world, performing original works. In 1973, Tharp choreographed Deuce Coupe to the music of The Beach Boys for the Joffrey Ballet. Deuce Coupe is considered to be the first crossover ballet. Later she choreographed Push Comes to Shove (1976), which featured Mikhail Baryshnikov and is now thought to be the best example of the crossover ballet. In 1988, Twyla Tharp Dance merged with American Ballet Theatre, since which time ABT has held the world premieres of 16 of Tharp's works. 2Biography 3Early years Tharp was born in 1941 on a farm in Portland, Indiana, the daughter of Lucille and William Tharp. She was named for Twila Thornburg, the "Pig Princess" of the 89th Annual Muncie Fair in Indiana as related in her own book The Creative Habit:Learn It and Use It for Life (2007
I know writers who say they take little pleasure in writing but they love having written. I'm not like that. I'm more like the athlete who enjoys practicing as much as playing the actual game.
Give me a writer who thinks he has all the time in the world and I'll show you a writer who never delivers.
In order to be habitually creative, you have to know how to prepare to be creative.
Art is not about minimizing risk and delivering work that is guaranteed to please.
I'm often asked, 'Where do you get your ideas?' This happens to anyone who is willing to stand in front of an audience and talk about his or her work. The short answer is: everywhere. It's like asking 'Where do you find the air you breathe?' Ideas are all around you.
The first steps of a creative act are like groping in the dark: random and chaotic, feverish and fearful, a lot of busy-ness with no apparent or definable end in sight.
I'm not sure how to do it: a problem, obviously, but we're not talking about constructing the Brooklyn Bridge. If you try and it doesn't work, you'll try a different way next time. Doing is better than not doing, and if you do something badly you'll learn to do it better.
Better an imperfect dome in Florence than cathedrals in the clouds.
Whether or not God has kissed your brow, you still have to work.
Creativity is a habit, and the best creativity is a result of good work habits.