The History of Up And Down, I & II
Pages 8 out of 12 from Tharp’s original choreographic notes for programming the computer.
Rudner performing in a moving light, casting shadow.
Rehearsal and performance footage of Tharp, dancers and Oberlin College students.
Premiere
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Date
22 January 1971
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Company
Twyla Tharp and Dancers
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Location
Oberlin, OH
Production
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Choreographer
Twyla Tharp
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Music by
Willie “The Lion” Smith,
Jelly Roll Morton,
Rufus Thomas
Dancers
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Number of Dancers
6
Description
A work for the company and a large group of students, The History of Up and Down I consists of two sets of exercises: The Beginner’s Exercise Book and the Oberlin Exercise Book. These exercises are performed to music by Willie “The Lion” Smith and Jelly Roll Morton in a gymnasium.
The History of Up and Down II is performed on stage to Walking the Dog” by Rufus Thomas. The choreography for the stage version was organized by an IBM 360/44 computer.
Pages 1 out of 12 from Tharp’s original choreographic notes for programming the computer.
The dancers learn the computer program’s reorganized sections and perform the phrases in conjunction with a student’s independently designed light plot.
This material was later revised to become Eight Jelly Rolls (1971).
This piece was presented with the support of the Ohio Arts Council and Gilford Instrument Laboratories.
Past Performances
Twyla Tharp and Dancers
The History of Up and Down (premiere) | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Oberlin, OH
January 22 1971 Premiere
- 1971