Disperse
Rudner, Tupling, Tharp and Dickinson (left to right) perform at Wagner College in 1968. Photo by Robert Propper.
Dickinson, Tupling, Tharp and Rudner (left to right) perform at Wagner College in 1968. Photo by Robert Propper.
Dickinson and Tupling perform. Photo by Robert Propper.
Rudner, Tupling, Tharp and Dickinson (back to front) perform at Wagner College in 1968. Photo by Robert Propper.
Dickinson, Tupling, Rudner and Tharp (left to right) perform in Southampton in 1967. Photo by Robert Propper.
Dickinson and Tupling (front to back) perform. Photo by Robert Propper.
Premiere
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Date
27 April 1967
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Company
Twyla Tharp with Sara Rudner, Theresa Dickinson, and Margery Tupling
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Venue
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Location
Richmond, VA
Production
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Choreographer
Twyla Tharp
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Lighting Design
Jennifer Tipton
Dancers
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Number of Dancers
4
Description
The idea for Disperse came from the “Dichotomy Paradox” of the Greek philosopher Zeno of Elea, which claims that any finite distance can never be subdivided to the point of zero, thereby making a point of origin impossible. Tharp creates a centrifuge with whip-turn fouettés in full revolution– a further evolution of the locomotive fouettés in One, Two, Three (1967).
Keeping in mind that beginnings are more elusive and endings more concrete as stated in Zeno’s paradox, the dance concludes with smashing a neon pink chair – signifying the ultimate destruction or, philosophically, the impossible zero.
Pages 2, 3, 5, and 6 of 15 from Tharp’s original choreographic notes.
Disperse premiered at the Richmond Professional Institute Bang Arts Festival.
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Commissioner
Richmond Professional Institute (now Virginia Commonwealth University)
Past Performances
Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Disperse (premiere) | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Richmond, VA
April 27 1967 Premiere
Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Disperse – Yancey Dance – Jam – One,Two, Three – Three Page Sonata For Four (premiere) | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Potsdam, NY
July 6 1967 Premiere
Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Disperse | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
East Hampton, NY
August 26 1967 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Disperse | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Southampton, NY
August 27 1967 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Disperse – Generation (premiere) – One Way (premiere) – Forevermore | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Staten Island, NY
February 9 1968 Premiere
Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Group Activities (premiere) – Disperse – Excess, Idle, Surplus | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Philadelphia, PA
January 13 1969 Premiere
Twyla Tharp and Dancers
After 'Suite' (premiere) – Disperse – Excess, Idle, Surplus | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
New York, NY
February 3 1969 Premiere
Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Dancing in the Streets – Tank Dive – Disperse – Group Activities – Generation – After 'Suite' – Medley | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Hartford, CT
November 11 1969 Premiere
Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Dancing in the Streets – Tank Dive – Disperse – Group Activities – Generation – After 'Suite' – Medley | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
New York, NY
January 22 1970 Dance
- 1967
- 1968
- 1969
- 1970