Octet
Company dancers in performance. Photo by Martha Swope.
Company dancers perform in the final section.
Company dancers perform. Photo by Martha Swope.
Brown and O’Day perform. Photo by Martha Swope.
Premiere
-
Date
4 October 1991
-
Company
Twyla Tharp Dance
-
Location
Columbus, OH
Production
-
Choreographer
Twyla Tharp
-
Composer
Edgar Meyer (The Plumed Serpent, 1991)
-
Lighting Designer
David Finn
-
Costume Designer
Santo Loquasto
Dancers
Description
Tharp’s Octet is a short, formal ballet accompanied by Edgar Meyer’s sinewy score. The four women’s roles are powerful, requiring a strong upper back and grounded pointe technique. The ballerinas do not float above the floor, but rather burrow into it as they bourrée across the stage in parallel position. Their male counterparts are sturdy and provide a point of resistance in the isometric partnering.
Past Performances
Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Octet (premiere) – Men's Piece (premiere) – Deuce Coupe (IV) | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Columbus, OH
October 4 1991 Dance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Octet – Grand Pas: Rhythm of the Saints – Men's Piece – Ocean's Motion | Twyla Tharp Dance
New York, NY
January 28 1992 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Deuce Coupe (IV) – Octet – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
New York, NY
January 31 1992 Repertory
Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Deuce Coupe (IV) – Octet – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Tokyo, Japan
February 15 1992 Repertory
Twyla Tharp Dance
Fever – Octet – Demeter and Persephone – In The Upper Room | Twyla Tharp Dance
New York, NY
September 14 1993 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Nine Sinatra Songs – Octet – Golden Section | Twyla Tharp Dance
Paris, France
October 12 1993 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Octet – Brahms Paganini – As Time Goes By – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp Dance
Tanz '94
Vienna, Austria
February 24 1994 TTD Performance
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
Octet – Junk Duet | Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
Pittsburgh, PA
March 14 2008 Repertory
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 2008