Tharp, Twyla, 1941-, American dancer and choreographer, b. Portland, Ind. An eclectic, innovative choreographer and dancer, she danced (1963-65) with Paul Taylor. For more than 20 years she had her own dance companies (1967-85, 1986-88), but in 1988 she joined the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) as an artistic associate and until 1991 was one of the company's two resident choreographers. After leaving ABT she produced two pick-up troupes, including a 1992-93 tour starring herself and Mikhail Baryshnikov. She later established relationships with two regional troupes and rejoined (1995) ABT as a choreographer. In 2000 she again launched a company of her own, Twyla Tharp Dance.

Her impudent, loose-limbed, and immensely popular choreography, which combines elements from ballet, jazz, and modern dance, is characterized by high energy and meticulous discipline despite its pop-culture effects. Her works include Deuce Coupe (1973), Push Comes to Shove (1975), Baker's Dozen (1979), When We Were Very Young (1980), In the Upper Room (1986), Nine Sinatra Songs (1987), and The Beethoven Seventh (2000). Tharp also has choreographed for stage and film musicals, and conceived, directed, and choreographed the two-act Broadway ballet Movin' Out (2002), set to songs by Billy Joel. She also choreographed the much less successful The Times They Are a-Changin' (2006), based on Bob Dylan songs.

(born July 1, 1941, Portland, Ind., U.S.) U.S. dancer, director, and choreographer. She danced with Paul Taylor's company from 1963 to 1965, when she formed her own troupe and began to choreograph works such as Deuce Coupe (1973), Push Comes to Shove (1976), Baker's Dozen (1979), Nine Sinatra Songs (1982), and Fait Accompli (1984). In 1988 she disbanded her company and was resident choreographer with the American Ballet Theatre (1988–91). She has also choreographed for the Broadway theatre (including The Catherine Wheel, 1981) and several films (including Hair, 1979, and Amadeus, 1984). Tharp is notable for her humour and particularly for having been one of the first American choreographers to use popular music.

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Not to be confused with Thorp.

Tharp is a surname, and may refer to:

• Aran Tharp (b. 1977), American avant-garde musician
• John Tharp (1744–1804), Jamaican property owner
• Kenneth Tharp (contemporary), English dance artist
• Marie Tharp (1920–2006), American geologist and oceanographer
• Reynold Tharp (b. 1973), American composer
• Taylor Tharp (b. 1984), American professional football player
• Twyla Tharp (b. 1941), American dancer and choreographer
• Van K. Tharp (b. 1949), American traders’ coach and author
• William Tharp (1803–1865), American politician from Delaware; governor of Delaware 1947–51