Men's Piece

Men's Piece
World premiere date
Premiere location place
Columbus, OH
Dancers

Twyla Tharp and Kevin O'Day

with Jamie Bishton, Stephane Elizabe, Keith Young

Total number of dancers
5
Runtime
:37:30

Men’s Piece is a short theatrical work that blends concert dance with the lecture/demonstration format. Tharp's narration, not unlike The Bix Pieces, is at once humorous, personal and academic.

A line of white tape divides the stage into two halves: “WORK” and “PLAY.” Tharp moves back and forth across the border. On one side, she teaches three men a march with rapid-fire instructions, such as “retrograde the inversion” and “flip fronts 94°.” On the other, she partners Kevin O’Day, alternately waltzing and grappling with him. Their final duet is based on isometric partnering - equal but opposing forces.

  • A screen capture of Wright performing on the walkways of the University of Massachusetts - Amherst campus.

    <p>&copy;Twyla Tharp</p>
  • Costume sketches for dancers Delanoe and Brown by designer Santo Loquasto.

    <p>©Twyla Tharp</p>
Videos
Video URL
Video Description

A brief excerpt featuring Tharp and O'Day.

Full music program

Stand By Your Man
Performed by Tammy Wynette
Written by Tammy Wynette and Billy Sherrill

Champagne Charlie
Performed by Leon Redbone
Written by George Leybourne

He Loves and She Loves
Performed by Fred Astaire
Written by George and Ira Gershwin

Strike Up the Band
Performed by
Written by Geroge and Ira Gershwin

Do I Love You?
Performed by Cole Porter
Written by Cole Porter

Sextet - Men's Piece - The Golden Section | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Tokyo, Japan
Sextet (premiere) - Men's Piece - The Golden Section | Twyla Tharp Dance
New York City Center
New York, NY
Octet - Grand Pas: Rhythm of the Saints - Men's Piece - Ocean's Motion | Twyla Tharp Dance
New York City Center
New York, NY
Deuce Coupe (IV) - LittleBallet - Men's Piece - The Golden Section | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Wexner Center for the Arts
Columbus, OH
Octet (premiere) - Men's Piece (premiere) - Deuce Coupe (IV) | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Wexner Center for the Arts
Columbus, OH