The Fugue
Wright, Tharp and Rudner in The Fugue at the Roundhouse in London, 1974. Photo by Tony Russell.
Tharp and Wright perform the first variation at the Los Angeles Inner City Theater in 1972.
Rudner in The Fugue at the Roundhouse in London, 1974. Photo by Tony Russell.
Tharp in The Fugue at the Delacorte Theater in 1971. Photo by Milton Oleaga.
Premiere
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Date
1 August 1970
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Company
Twyla Tharp with Sara Rudner and Rose Marie Wright
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Location
Amherst, MA
Dancers
Description
Modeled on The Musical Offering by Johann Sebastian Bach, The Fugue consists of a twenty-count theme which is developed into twenty variations. The theme is modified through a number of reversals, inversions, retrogrades and repetitions, re-sequencing and rhythmic manipulations. Each of the three dancers represents a musical register: bass, alto, soprano. The only sound is the dancers’ footfalls on an amplified stage.
The Fugue is the first work intended to become a piece of active repertory. The works that preceded were created as exercises; The Fugue is a culmination of those lessons. It is also the earliest work to be licensed by other dance companies.
This piece was supported by National Endowment for the Arts Dance Touring Program.
Past Performances
Twyla Tharp and Dancers
The Fugue (premiere) – The One Hundreds (premiere) | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Amherst, MA
August 1 1970 Premiere
Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Eight Jelly Rolls (premiere) – The Fugue | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
New York, NY
September 16 1971 Premiere
Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Torelli (premiere) – Piano Rolls (premiere) – The Fugue – Eight Jelly Rolls | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Paris, France
November 2 1971 Premiere
Twyla Tharp Dance
Torelli – Eight Jelly Rolls – The Fugue | Twyla Tharp Dance
Los Angeles, CA
April 9 1972 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Torelli – The Bix Pieces (preview) – The Fugue | Twyla Tharp Dance
Los Angeles, CA
April 14 1972 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
The Fugue – Eight Jelly Rolls – The One Hundreds | Twyla Tharp Dance
Los Angeles, CA
April 15 1972 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Torelli – Eight Jelly Rolls – The Fugue | Twyla Tharp Dance
Marquette, MI
April 22 1972 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
The Raggedy Dances – The Fugue – Eight Jelly Rolls | Twyla Tharp Dance
Athens, OH
January 16 1974 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
In The Beginnings (premiere) – The Fugue – Eight Jelly Rolls | Twyla Tharp Dance
Minneapolis, MN
January 26 1974 Premiere
Twyla Tharp Dance
The Raggedy Dances – The Fugue – The Bix Pieces – Eight Jelly Rolls | Twyla Tharp Dance
Waltham, MA
January 31 1974 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
The Raggedy Dances – The Fugue – The Bix Pieces – Eight Jelly Rolls | Twyla Tharp Dance
Williamston, MA
March 8 1974 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
The Bix Pieces – Eight Jelly Rolls – The Fugue | Twyla Tharp Dance
London, United Kingdom
May 16 1974 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Sues Leg – Bach Duet – The Rags Suite – Ocean's Motion – The Fugue | Twyla Tharp Dance
Fort Worth Art Museum
Fort Worth, TX
September 13 1975 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Sues Leg – Bach Duet – The Rags Suite – Ocean's Motion – The Fugue | Twyla Tharp Dance
San Antonio Ballet Society
San Antonio, TX
September 20 1975 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
The Rags Suite – Bach Duet – The Fugue – Eight Jelly Rolls | Twyla Tharp Dance
Cambridge, MA
February 5 1976 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
The Rags Suite – Bach Duet – The Fugue – Eight Jelly Rolls | Twyla Tharp Dance
Washington, D.C.
February 12 1976 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Give And Take (premiere) – The Fugue – Eight Jelly Rolls | Twyla Tharp Dance
Brooklyn, NY
March 25 1976 Premiere
Twyla Tharp Dance
Country Dances (premiere) – The Fugue – Eight Jelly Rolls | Twyla Tharp Dance
Edinburgh, Scotland
September 4 1976 Premiere
Twyla Tharp Dance
Country Dances – Hither and Yon (premiere) – The Fugue | Twyla Tharp Dance
Edinburgh, Scotland
September 6 1976 Dance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Country Dances – The Fugue – From Hither and Yon | Twyla Tharp Dance
Berlin, Germany
September 11 1976 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Country Dances – The Fugue – Eight Jelly Rolls | Twyla Tharp Dance
Tampa, FL
October 3 1976 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Mud – The Fugue – The Bix Pieces | Twyla Tharp Dance
Brooklyn, NY
May 20 1977 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Mud – The Fugue – Eight Jelly Rolls | Twyla Tharp Dance
New London, CT
July 29 1977 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Country Dances – The Fugue – Sue's Leg | Twyla Tharp Dance
Becket, MA
August 2 1977 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Chapters And Verses (premiere) – 1903 (premier) – The Fugue – Sue's Leg | Twyla Tharp Dance
Hartford, CT
February 2 1979 Premiere
Twyla Tharp Dance
Sue's Leg – The Fugue – Three Dances From The Film ""Hair" – Chapters And Verses |Twyla Tharp Dance
Brooklyn, NY
February 17 1979 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Eight Jelly Rolls – The Fugue – Deuce Coupe III | Twyla Tharp Dance
New York, NY
March 29 1980 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
The Rags Suite – Assorted Quartets (premiere) – The Fugue – Oceans Motion | Twyla Tharp Dance
Saratoga Springs, NY
July 29 1980 Premiere
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
Baker's Dozen – The Fugue – Eight Jelly Rolls – Third Suite | Twyla Tharp Dnace
Paris, France
October 6 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
Brahms Paganini – Uncle Edgar (premiere) – The Fugue – Ocean's Motion | Twyla Tharp Dance
Dayton, OH
February 28 1981 Premiere
Twyla Tharp Dance
Brahms Paganini – Uncle Edgar – The Fugue – Deuce Coupe III | Twyla Tharp Dance
New York, NY
September 25 1981 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Sorrow Floats – The Fugue – Nine Sinatra Songs – Brahms Paganini | Twyla Tharp Dance
Louisville, KY
January 26 1985 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Brahms Paganini – The Fugue – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp Dance
Philadelphia, PA
February 6 1985 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Ballare (premiere) – The Fugue – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp Dance
Highland Park, IL
August 30 1986 Premiere
Twyla Tharp Dance
Ballare – The Fugue – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp Dance
Berlin, Germany
September 19 1986 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Ballare – The Fugue – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp Dance
Madrid, Spain
October 7 1986 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Baker's Dozen – The Fugue – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp Dance
Florence, Italy
October 15 1986 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Ballare – The Fugue – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp Dance
Rome, Italy
October 22 1986 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Ballare – The Fugue – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp Dance
Genève, Switzerland
November 10 1986 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Ballare – The Fugue – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp Dance
Brooklyn, NY
February 11 1987 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Ballare – The Fugue – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp Dance
Cleveland, OH
May 1 1987 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Bums Rush – The Fugue – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp Dance
Melbourne, Australia
February 4 1988 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Bums Rush – The Fugue – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp Dance
Sydney, Australia
February 18 1988 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Bums Rush – The Fugue – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp Dance
Perth, Australia
March 1 1988 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Bums Rush – The Fugue – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp Dance
The Opera Theatre
Adelaide, Australia
March 10 1988 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Bums Rush – The Fugue – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp Dance
Canberra, Australia
March 17 1988 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Bums Rush – The Fugue – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp Dance
Wellington, New Zealand
March 23 1988 TTD Performance
American Ballet Theatre
The Fugue – Quartet (premiere) | American Ballet Theatre
Miami, FL
February 4 1989 Premiere
American Ballet Theatre
Bums Rush – Quartet – The Fugue – In The Upper Room | American Ballet Theatre
Auditorium Theater
Chicago, IL
February 18 1989 Repertory
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
The Fugue | Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Chicago, IL
April 2 1990 Repertory
Tharp!
Sweet Fields – The Fugue – Roy's Joys (premiere) | Tharp!
New York, NY
September 30 1997 Premiere
Tharp!
Roy's Joys – The Fugue – Sweet Fields | Tharp!
Sydney, Australia
January 21 1998 TTD Performance
Tharp!
Roy's Joys – The Fugue – Sweet Fields | Tharp!
Zürich, Switzerland
April 21 1998 TTD Performance
Tharp!
Roy's Joys – The Fugue – Sweet Fields | Tharp!
Santiago, Chile
November 22 1998 TTD Performance
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Fugue | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Urbana-Champaign, IL
January 31 2002 Repertory
Twyla Tharp Dance
Junk Duet – The Fugue – Westerly Round – Surfer At The River Styx |Twyla Tharp Dance
Becket, MA
June 18 2003 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Junk Duet – The Fugue – Westerly Round – Surfer At The River Styx |Twyla Tharp Dance
London, United Kingdom
July 3 2003 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Junk Duet – The Fugue – Westerly Round – Surfer At The River Styx |Twyla Tharp Dance
New York, NY
July 28 2003 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Junk Duet – The Fugue – Westerly Round – Surfer At The River Styx |Twyla Tharp Dance
Princeton, NJ
September 25 2003 TTD Performance
The Royal Danish Ballet
The Fugue | The Royal Danish Ballet
Copenhagen, Denmark
September 30 2005 Repertory
Marymount Manhattan College
The Fugue | Marymount Manhattan College
New York, NY
April 7 2007 Repertory
Edith Cowan University – Perth
The Fugue | Edith Cowan University – Perth
Mount Lawley, Australia
October 24 2007 Repertory
University of Texas at Austin
The Fugue | University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX
December 6 2007 Repertory
University of Washington Chamber Dance Company
The Fugue | University of Washington
Seattle, WA
October 2 2008 Workshop & Repertory
University of Kansas Dance Program
The Fugue | University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS
April 16 2009 Workshop & Repertory
National Theater Mannheim
The Fugue | National Theater Mannheim
Mannheim, Germany
November 14 2009 Repertory
Princeton University
The Fugue | Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
February 19 2010 Workshop & Repertory
Connecticut College
The Fugue | Connecticut College
New London, CT
April 14 2011 Workshop & Repertory
Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
The Fugue | Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
Perth, Australia
May 3 2012 Workshop
University of Washington Chamber Dance Company
The Fugue | University of Washington
Seattle, WA
October 10 2013 Workshop & Repertory
CCN Ballet de Lorraine
The Fugue – Nine Sinatra Songs | Ballet de Lorraine
Nancy, France
November 12 2015 Repertory
Twyla Tharp Dance Foundation
Catskills Residency – preview performance | Twyla Tharp Dance
Tannersville, NY
September 9 2017 Other
Twyla Tharp Dance Foundation
The Raggedy Dances – The Fugue – Entr'Acte – Dylan Love Songs | Twyla Tharp Dance (NY Season)
New York, NY
September 19 2017 Premiere
Twyla Tharp Dance Foundation
Minimalism – The Fugue | Twyla Tharp Dance
Chicago, IL
December 7 2017 TTD Performance
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