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Dance Icon Twyla Tharp Says Keep Moving — No Matter How Old You Are

Dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp talks about her new book, "Keep It Moving: Lessons for the Rest of Your Life."
"Keep It Moving: Lessons for the Rest of Your Life" by Twyla Tharp (Allison Hagan/Here & Now)

Here & Now’s Robin Young speaks with dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp about her new book, “Keep It Moving: Lessons for the Rest of Your Life.”

Book Excerpt: “Keep It Moving”

By Twyla Tharp

Twenty years ago, I wrote a book called The Creative Habit, sharing the message that we can all live creative lives if only we could stop waiting for a muse to arrive with divine inspiration and instead just get down to work. In other words, you too can be more creative if you are willing to sweat a little. This message still resonates when I lecture. But, interestingly, the question I am most often asked after a talk these days is on a different topic entirely: “How do you keep working?” The subtext here, sotto voce, is “. . . at your age?” Which is seventy-eight.

To me it is simple. I continue

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