Oldies but not Goodies: Twyla Tharp's double bill in New York

Twyla Tharp's In the Upper Room

Twyla Tharp's Nine Sinatra Songs

By Erin Bomboy, 23 October 2022

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“Tharp leaves no razzmatazz trope unrepresented”

Reviewed at New York City Center, New York City on 21 October 2022

In the Upper Room (Twyla Tharp)

9 Sinatra Songs (Twyla Tharp)

Jeanette Delgado, Dancer

Benjamin Freemantle, Dancer

Kaitlyn Gilliland, Dancer

James Gilmer, Dancer

Jacquelin Harris, Dancer

Daisy Jacobson, Dancer

Lloyd Knight, Dancer

Julian MacKay, Dancer

Marzia Memoli, Dancer

Stephanie Petersen, Dancer

Reed Tankersley, Dancer

Cassandra Trenary, Dancer

Daniel Ulbricht, Dancer

Richard Villaverde, Dancer

American Ballet Theatre: Twyla Tharp still has it!

Ivy Lin, 15th October

Twyla@60: A Tharp Celebration is an overall triumph though not just for Tharp, but for Susan Jaffe’s vision for American Ballet Theatre.

****1

Twyla Tharp's Diamond Jubilee: disappointments and delights

Ivy Lin, 12th March

Despite my reservations about Diabelli, there is no doubt Twyla Tharp is one of the most inventive, adventurous voices in dance still (and she's 83). She deserves her flowers.

****1

Kingdom of the Shades is a company's ultimate test

Ivy Lin, 27th October

Artistic Director, Susan Jaffe, reviving the Kingdom of the Shades for ABT’s Fall Season was both a testament to her trust in her company, and also a test.

****1

American Ballet Theatre captivates in a thrilling triple bill

Ivy Lin, 20th October

Just as there can never be a bad performance of Serenade, there are no bad performances of In the Upper Room. It practically dances itself.

****1

Twyla Tharp: still cool after all these years

Ivy Lin, 13th February

Two world premieres and a piece created in 1975. Tharp herself came onstage to raucous applause. She might be “pop dance”, but audiences love it.

*****

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Modern Masters: explosive style

Deborah Weiss, 6th September

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater proves its versatility in this Sadler's Wells programme, confirming its place as one of the world's greatest dance companies.

****1

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Erin Bomboy

Erin Bomboy has been writing about dance since 2013. She trained as a classical ballet dancer and spent a decade as a professional competitive ballroom dancer. She holds an MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from New York University Tisch School of the Arts, where she was mentored by Deborah Jowitt. She lives in New York City with her husband, daughter and fabulous Maine Coon cat. In her free time, Erin enjoys bacon, books, wine and working out.

Oldies but not Goodies: Twyla Tharp's In the Upper Room and Nine Sinatra Songs in New York