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To hear Brendan Kiley's interview with Twyla Tharp, click play on the media player below:
Click here to read Brendan's accompanying story about "the world's most famous living choreographer."
1
She certainly comes off as cranky, but you clearly have no real grasp of the dance world. And that's fine, since it's not your focus, but maybe the Stranger could look into preparing its reporters better before sticking them in front of the greatest representative of an art form or medium they don't understand.
You almost redeemed yourself at the end, though. Very good answer regarding art criticism.
You almost redeemed yourself at the end, though. Very good answer regarding art criticism.
2
Wow Brendan, you were deeply in over your head. You're a theater critic and you have to have "You Gotta Have A Gimmick" explained to you? Unbelievable!
You are dealing with a woman who once applied for an arts grant. When the paperwork arrived asking her to provide an proposal essay explaining why she needed the grant, she wrote across the application in lipstick "I MAKE DANCES, NOT PROPOSALS".
This is obviously a woman who does not put up with any foolishness of any kind.
Oh, by the way, she got the grant.
You are dealing with a woman who once applied for an arts grant. When the paperwork arrived asking her to provide an proposal essay explaining why she needed the grant, she wrote across the application in lipstick "I MAKE DANCES, NOT PROPOSALS".
This is obviously a woman who does not put up with any foolishness of any kind.
Oh, by the way, she got the grant.
3
In my defense, nicestdionysus, I know the musical but didn't (at that moment) realize she was referencing it. I was a little distracted by trying to get a worthwhile interview out of someone who was clearly contemptuous of me, my profession, and the whole situation.
4
Brendan, I think you handled that old bag quite nicely. i appreciate her influence on modern dance but I am astounded that she can't take anytime out of her schedule to support other artists, when it is clear people support her work. I saw the show at PNB and she could use some fresh inspiration. Her piece from the 1980's has exactly the same movement material as the one she just created. I was bored after the first 5 minutes.
5
Hi Brendan,
My name is Holly Eckert and I'm a local choreographer who's been making dances in Seattle for 15 years. The whole world of dance is hermetic, not just Twyla. We operate inside a medium that has become so remote from our culture that dance artists spend most of their time worrying about whether or not anybody will show up to their performances, including the now ONE modern dance critic in Seattle, Sandra Kurtz of The Weekly. The Seattle Times and The Seattle PI will tell you straight out they don't cover modern dance. The Stranger, the last time I spoke to them in March, also didn't have a dance critic on staff. With literally one person in this city writing regular reviews of dance performances, the scope of work shrinks as dance artists give up and go home. I just completed my first full-length musical in March 2008 called The Exile Project. I begged you or someone at The Stranger to attend the show knowing that The Weekly would send Sandra because I'm locked inside their box as a choreographer. Even though I've received awards from The Stranger, noone at the paper could make it, leaving me with Sandra as my only press coverage. Give Twyla a break, she's stayed the course for a long time inside a fairly relentless medium. Inside your article, you also take The Snow Project to task for not being substantive enough. Well, it's my artistic mission to use the medium of movement to address substantive issues of our time. My musical examined one man's experience trying to rebuild his life after prison. Sandra thought it was too substantive, a criticism I've received throughout my career. KUOW actually cancelled an interview with me after it was recorded because it wasn't "light" enough. Prison just isn't a fluffy subject. So, what do you people want? That's how a lot of dance artists feel. More than likely that's how Twyla feels after her lifetime of work -- tired, very tired. If you ever want to talk to a dance artist in town who isn't a crank, give me a call. I hope The Stranger will get its act together and put a dance critic on staff, maybe two.
Sincerely,
Holly Eckert
movement artist
More...
My name is Holly Eckert and I'm a local choreographer who's been making dances in Seattle for 15 years. The whole world of dance is hermetic, not just Twyla. We operate inside a medium that has become so remote from our culture that dance artists spend most of their time worrying about whether or not anybody will show up to their performances, including the now ONE modern dance critic in Seattle, Sandra Kurtz of The Weekly. The Seattle Times and The Seattle PI will tell you straight out they don't cover modern dance. The Stranger, the last time I spoke to them in March, also didn't have a dance critic on staff. With literally one person in this city writing regular reviews of dance performances, the scope of work shrinks as dance artists give up and go home. I just completed my first full-length musical in March 2008 called The Exile Project. I begged you or someone at The Stranger to attend the show knowing that The Weekly would send Sandra because I'm locked inside their box as a choreographer. Even though I've received awards from The Stranger, noone at the paper could make it, leaving me with Sandra as my only press coverage. Give Twyla a break, she's stayed the course for a long time inside a fairly relentless medium. Inside your article, you also take The Snow Project to task for not being substantive enough. Well, it's my artistic mission to use the medium of movement to address substantive issues of our time. My musical examined one man's experience trying to rebuild his life after prison. Sandra thought it was too substantive, a criticism I've received throughout my career. KUOW actually cancelled an interview with me after it was recorded because it wasn't "light" enough. Prison just isn't a fluffy subject. So, what do you people want? That's how a lot of dance artists feel. More than likely that's how Twyla feels after her lifetime of work -- tired, very tired. If you ever want to talk to a dance artist in town who isn't a crank, give me a call. I hope The Stranger will get its act together and put a dance critic on staff, maybe two.
Sincerely,
Holly Eckert
movement artist
6
It's not that newspaper don't want dedicated dance critics, Holly—it's that they can't afford them. The entire industry is taking a dive and all kinds of critics (classical music, dance, theater, film) are being axed from papers across the country.
And don't shed any tears for Twyla Tharp. She's monumentally successful, has worked on hit Broadway and Hollywood projects, and is wealthy beyond most choreographers' greediest dreams.
As for "what us people want"—right now, I would like a waffle.
And don't shed any tears for Twyla Tharp. She's monumentally successful, has worked on hit Broadway and Hollywood projects, and is wealthy beyond most choreographers' greediest dreams.
As for "what us people want"—right now, I would like a waffle.
7
Believe Brendan, I'm not shedding tears for Twyla. I recognize that everyone is trying to make something happen with very few resources; however, sometimes limitations inspire creativity that surprises even the creator. Maybe, there's someone who'd volunteer their time in the role of dance critic. Maybe they'd be interested in trading an opinion for a waffle. Just a thought. I want you to know that I appreciate The Stranger's continued commitment to the arts in Seattle. Thanks and best wishes.
8
So she makes dances that people like. You should be able to ask her anything you want with zero flack. She is not super-human, nor should she be treated as such.
I am a dancer and choreographer, and
a fellow dancer I know danced for Twyla for a season. She said it was absolute hell. Being a raving bitch has nothing to do with artistic genius. It just doesn't.
If I may drop a name, Alonzo King is the director/choreographer of Lines Ballet in SF. They should be coming to Meany this November. He is not only talented, he is a great guy. Look him up. I know. Shameless plug.
I am a dancer and choreographer, and
a fellow dancer I know danced for Twyla for a season. She said it was absolute hell. Being a raving bitch has nothing to do with artistic genius. It just doesn't.
If I may drop a name, Alonzo King is the director/choreographer of Lines Ballet in SF. They should be coming to Meany this November. He is not only talented, he is a great guy. Look him up. I know. Shameless plug.
9
Milton Glaser says the same thing about his days in a collection of interviews by Debbie Millman: "I have very few 'interests.' I have not been to the movies in 12 years. I listen to music but at home. . .I just read and work. That's all I do." Dance or not, people, it seems, make choices to focus and work and what others are doing around you becomes irrelevant.
10
brendan,
In listening to you interview with Twyla I had to appreciate your abilities. You actually were able to pull some interesting things out of a person who was unwilling to talk. Very nice work and commendable. I was imagining what it would be like to be trying to interview someone who thought i was useless and couldn't possibly care. There is so much disdain in her voice until finally at the end when she suddenly has to begin to take you seriously because you have thought about why you do what you do. It was telling and disappointing to have the tape turned off just when the discussion was finally going to be on equal terms. Oh well. Thanks for trying and proving your a thoughtful and interested participant in our arts culture.
In listening to you interview with Twyla I had to appreciate your abilities. You actually were able to pull some interesting things out of a person who was unwilling to talk. Very nice work and commendable. I was imagining what it would be like to be trying to interview someone who thought i was useless and couldn't possibly care. There is so much disdain in her voice until finally at the end when she suddenly has to begin to take you seriously because you have thought about why you do what you do. It was telling and disappointing to have the tape turned off just when the discussion was finally going to be on equal terms. Oh well. Thanks for trying and proving your a thoughtful and interested participant in our arts culture.
11
Dear Brendan--I admire Ms. Tharp, and I admire the way you hung in there with her. She is a handful. (Hope she doesn't take that as a compliment.) It's true that she does "work," as she is so fond of saying, but in 1996, I saw her at the ballet in NY. She was watching it, too; she wasn't reading Proust with a flashlight. She also has the occasional human relationship. I believe there was a fellow in Washington some years ago. Thanks for the interview.
L.
L.
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