Short Stories
Kellogg, Whitener, Washington, Carrafa and Kurshals (left to right) in Short Stories in 1981. Photo by Paul B. Goode.
Excerpts from studio rehearsal footage that was shot and edited as a storyboard for the taping of Confessions of a Cornermaker (1981).
Washington, Carrafa and company dancers perform the first section “Loverboy.” Photo by Martha Swope.
Premiere
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Date
27 August 1980
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Company
Twyla Tharp Dance
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Location
Highland Park, IL
Production
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Choreographer
Twyla Tharp
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Music by
Supertramp (Lover Boy, 1977),
Bruce Springsteen (Jungleland, 1975)
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Lighting Designer
Jennifer Tipton
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Costume Designer
Santo Loquasto
Dancers
Katie Glasner, Mary Ann Kellogg, Sara Rudner, Shelley Washington, Jennifer Way
John Carrafa, Raymond Kurshals, John Malashock, Tom Rawe, William Whitener
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Number of Dancers
10
Dance Sections
I. Supertramp
Carrafa, Kellogg, Washington, Kurshals, Whitener, Glasner
II. Springsteen
Rawe, Way, Malashock, Rudner
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Runtime
00:21:06
Description
Short Stories differs from Tharp’s previous works to popular music in two distinct ways: the first being that the subject matter is much darker, at times even violent. The second is in the way Tharp folds the lyric text into the narrative of the dance. The dramatic scenes unfold in sequences of complex partnering and dance phrases layered with mimetic gestures.
The opening section presents three couples and the attractions and jealousies between them. The song ends as three “love ‘em and leave ‘em” men walk away from the woman who was once the object of their interest.
A second scenario of love and envy is presented in the next section. Tensions mount between two couples – one easy and lyrical, the other charged and edgy – until it comes to blows in a final slow-motion struggle.
Past Performances
Twyla Tharp Dance
The Rags Suite – Short Stories (premiere) – The Fugue – Brahms Paganini | Twyla Tharp Dance
Highland Park, IL
August 27 1980 Premiere
Twyla Tharp Dance
Eight Jelly Rolls – Short Stories – Brahms Paganini | Twyla Tharp Dance
Ghent, Belgium
September 30 1980 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Brahms Paganini – Short Stories – The Fugue – Eight Jelly Rolls | Twyla Tharp Dance
Milan, Italy
October 16 1980 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Eight Jelly Rolls – Third Suite – Short Stories – Baker's Dozen | Twyla Tharp Dance
Dayton, OH
February 27 1981 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
The Bix Pieces – Assorted Quartets – Short Stories – Baker's Dozen | Twyla Tharp Dance
New York, NY
September 24 1981 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Eight Jelly Rolls – Assorted Quartets – Short Stories – Baker's Dozen | Twyla Tharp Dance
Vancouver, Canada
October 14 1982 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Nine Sinatra Songs – Eight Jelly Rolls – Assorted Quartets – Short Stories | Twyla Tharp Dance
Vancouver, Canada
October 16 1982 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Sorrow Floats – Short Stories – Baker's Dozen | Twyla Tharp Dance
Philadelphia, PA
February 9 1985 TTD Performance
- 1980
- 1981
- 1982
- 1985