Twyla Tharp

Twyla Tharp is much more than just a choreographer; she is also an entrepreneur, manager, and accomplished businesswoman.

Tharp founded Twyla Tharp Dance company in 1965, transforming it from its humble beginnings into a Tony Award-winning organization with the Broadway hit "Movin' Out." Her entrepreneurial drive and managerial skills have been pivotal in motivating and maintaining her company, which she does with a blend of creativity and discipline.

"Magical moments of inspiration have little to do with creativity. It’s mainly a matter of discipline—lots and lots of discipline," Tharp says. She equates her choreography work to management, viewing the direction of dancers as a form of behavioral management through effective communication. Her managerial approach focuses on four core tasks: identifying talent, seeking the spectacular, making them stretch, and adopting a parental role. Her book "The Creative Habit: Learn it and Use It for Life" elaborates on how anyone can harness the creative power she employs.

Throughout her career, Tharp has shown an uncanny ability to identify talent in unexpected places, including inexperienced or older dancers, and pushes them beyond their perceived limits, similar to the demanding expectations a CEO might set for their employees. Despite her extensive commitments, which include choreographing more than 160 dances, winning numerous awards, writing multiple books such as "Push Comes to Shove" and "The Collaborative Habit: Life Lessons for Working Together," and directing choreography for films like "Hair," "Ragtime," and "Amadeus," Tharp has never shied away from hard work.

Tharp's presentations not only instill a strong work ethic but also inspire creativity in everyone who attends—whether they are peers, family members, or employees. Her extensive career achievements, including two Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and recognition like the Kennedy Center Honor in 2008, illustrate her remarkable influence in the dance and entertainment industries. She continues to create and choreograph for dance companies worldwide, showing that her life's work revolves around her passion for dance and creative expression.