Failing Well – Twyla Tharp

As a choreographer Twyla Tharp provides some exceptional insight into the methodology of creativity and how we approach success vs. failure.  I came upon this video over on 43Folders and it has some great advice for dancers who are in the middle of creative ventures.

Perhaps the most significant note in the video: wanting to be liked and admired can be an impediment to our creativity as dancers.  We often choose to replicate what works and what is showcased as successful in competitions by top dancers rather than pursuing our own creative impulses.

We have to be aware of our crowd and audience but at the same time have the confidence to forge our own dance since being admired and liked have little to do with dancing.  Something I think all aspiring dancers have to work on balancing.

Twyla Tharp is the author of The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life.

Published in: on December 10, 2008 at 2:30 pm Comments (1)
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  1. “Perhaps the most significant note in the video: wanting to be liked and admired can be an impediment to our creativity as dancers. ”

    I agree on your statements regarding this. It’s one of the big problems I’m working on.

    What’s funny is it’s not a problem in my writing, just my dancing. I guess its the competitive, social aspect of it that differs from the far more introverted art of writing.

    Thanks for posting!


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