PUSH COMES TO SHOVE

Rating:
Summary: Unexpectedly Fascinating
Review: I don't know much about modern dance; I discovered this book staying up late one night and seeing Tharp interviewed by Tom Snyder- which was pretty interesting in and of itself.

I was impressed enough by the interview to buy the book, and I was not disappointed. Tharp is a remarkably engaging speaker and writer, and she is completely open about her life, while avoiding the temptation to self-pity or self-aggrandizemnt typical of celebrity biography.

Strongly recommended, both for fans of dance and fans of autobiography.

Rating:
Summary: No Hold's Barred in Twyla's "Push Comes to Shove"
Review: I found Twyla's "Push Comes To Shove" to be all-consuming. This book really gives an honest insight of the modern dance world and into the life of one of the greatest self-made Modern Dance Choreographers to date. Twyla's "No holds barred attitude" about life, relationships, and dance is intriguing and exhilerating. This autobiography is a dance in itself...beautifully crafted, eloquently stated, and honest-honest-honest. what else could you ask for?

Rating:
Summary: what it really takes...
Review: to be an artist. If you ever had aspirations (or illusions) of being an artist, you should read this book. Not only is it a fascinating history of post-war modern dance, explaining the genius of Ballanchine and others, but it is an honest portrait of the pain and sacrifice that Tharp and others make to pursue their visions. You get to know that NYC scene of the 1960s and beyond in intimate and unflinching detail.

Tharp is a true original, self-made from the bottom up. You really get a feeling for the relentless drive, the long hours of work and experimentation, and the love that drive this artist to create. (At one point, she recounts the stress imposed on her upstate NY house of a dance troupe in its attic!) It offers both great advice and a cautionary tale. I learned an immense amount from this book at a moment - the mid-life crisis if you will - when I was reassessing my life course.

By turns funny and sad, this is truly great autobiography. Warmly recommended.