Twyla Tharp

Twyla Tharp is an American dancer, choreographer, and author born in 1941. She has created more than 160 works, including dances, television specials, movies, figure skating routines, and Broadway shows. As a choreographer, Tharp is known for combining classical ballet with modern dance, jazz, and social dance forms. Her most celebrated works include "Push Comes to Shove" (1976), "Nine Sinatra Songs" (1982), and the Broadway musical "Movin' Out" (2002), set to Billy Joel's music. In addition to her dance career, Tharp has written several influential books on creativity and artistic process. Her book "The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life" (2003) has become a cornerstone text for artists and creative professionals across disciplines. Tharp's contributions to dance and the arts have earned her numerous accolades, including two Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, nineteen honorary doctorates, and the Kennedy Center Honors. She continues to work as a choreographer and remains an active voice in the artistic community through her writing and lectures.

Readers consistently rate Tharp's "The Creative Habit" as practical and actionable. Many cite specific exercises and routines they've implemented from the book into their own creative practices. The book receives 4.2/5 stars on Goodreads (15,000+ ratings) and 4.6/5 on Amazon (1,000+ ratings). What readers liked: - Clear, concrete examples from Tharp's experience - Practical exercises for building creative habits - Focus on discipline and routine over waiting for inspiration - Personal anecdotes from dance and choreography What readers disliked: - Some find her tone rigid or demanding - Dance-heavy examples don't always translate to other fields - Repetitive points in later chapters - Focus on high-achievement can feel intimidating One reader noted: "Her emphasis on preparation and ritual changed how I approach my work." Another criticized: "Too much about dance, not enough universal application." Her other books like "Keep It Moving" and "The Collaborative Habit" receive similar ratings but fewer reviews, with readers praising their pragmatic advice while noting the dance-centric perspective.

Push Comes to Shove (1992) An autobiography detailing Tharp's journey as a dancer and choreographer, including her artistic development and creative process.

The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life (2003) A guide exploring creative routines and exercises based on Tharp's decades of artistic experience.

The Collaborative Habit: Life Lessons for Working Together (2009) An examination of successful collaboration techniques drawn from Tharp's experiences working with dancers, musicians, and other artists.

Keep It Moving: Lessons for the Rest of Your Life (2019) A book about maintaining physical and mental agility through movement and creative engagement at any age.

Julia Cameron writes about creative practice and developing artistic habits through daily rituals and exercises. Her book "The Artist's Way" established methods like morning pages that parallel Tharp's structured approach to creativity.

Anne Bogart focuses on movement, theatrical directing, and creative collaboration in her writing about artistic process. Her books explore physical techniques and ensemble development similar to Tharp's dance background.

Steven Pressfield examines the challenges of creative work and overcoming internal resistance to making art. His concepts about treating creative work as a professional practice align with Tharp's emphasis on discipline and routine.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi analyzes the psychology of peak performance and optimal creative states. His research on flow states connects to Tharp's ideas about practice and preparation enabling artistic breakthroughs.

Robert Greene writes about mastery and the patterns of success across different fields. His analysis of practice, apprenticeship, and expertise development reflects Tharp's focus on the fundamental elements of creative achievement.