WINNIPEG, MB - October 19, 2012 - Today Mayor Sam Katz presented the Key to the City to choreographer Twyla Tharp, who has been staying in Winnipeg for the past six weeks working on the Canadian Premiere of her latest production, The Princess & The Goblin, at Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
"Twyla Tharp is a prolific and visionary choreographer," said Mayor Sam Katz. "Winnipeg is honoured she has chosen to work with our own internationally acclaimed Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet for the Canadian Premiere of her original production."
Tharp is an international dance icon, having choreographed more than one hundred dances, five Hollywood movies and directed and choreographed four Broadway shows. Tharp has also been the recipient of one Tony Award, two Emmy Awards, more than a dozen honourary doctorates, the Vietnam Veterans of America President's Award, the 2004 National Medal of the Arts, the 2008 Jerome Robbins Prize and a 2008 Kennedy Center Honor.
While in Winnipeg, Tharp has also extensively worked with local students from Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, casting more than 20 children in The Princess & The Goblin and serving as a mentor to students in the RWB School Professional Division as part of the RBC Emerging Artists Project.
"I am honoured to be receiving a Key to the City from the City of Winnipeg," said Tharp. "Working on this production with Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the students has been a tremendously rewarding experience."