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The Collaborative Habit: Life Lessons for Working Together
• An important and useful In education, collaborative classroom learning is replacing head-to-head competition. In business, the best leaders are team-builders who can inspire great group efforts. Tharp uses her decades of experience to explain why teamwork is a superior way of working for some of us and inevitable for almost all of us. .
• The essential lessons of group Tharp takes readers through the most common varieties of collaborations, including working with a partner, with institutions and middlemen, outside your expertise, in a virtual partnership, with a friend, with someone who outranks you, plus how to deal with toxic collaborators, and much more..
• Examples from one of America’s greatest Twyla Tharp shows how she built successful collaborations with Jerome Robbins, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, Elvis Costello, David Byrne, Milos Forman, and four generations of great dancers..
• The essential lessons of group Tharp takes readers through the most common varieties of collaborations, including working with a partner, with institutions and middlemen, outside your expertise, in a virtual partnership, with a friend, with someone who outranks you, plus how to deal with toxic collaborators, and much more..
• Examples from one of America’s greatest Twyla Tharp shows how she built successful collaborations with Jerome Robbins, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, Elvis Costello, David Byrne, Milos Forman, and four generations of great dancers..
147 pages, Hardcover
First published November 10, 2009
53 people are currently reading
1024 people want to read
About the author
Twyla Tharp
17 books263 followersTwyla Tharp is an American dancer and choreographer. She has won Emmy and Tony awards, and currently works as a choreographer in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
April 1, 2018
p.12 – Collaborators aren’t born, they’re made. Or, to be more precise, built, a day at a time, through practice, through attention, through discipline, through passion and commitment – and most of all, through habit.
p.13 – At first it may seem unnatural to show up and care more about collaborative project than about your personal advancement, but once you start ignoring your comfort level, you’re on your way. Even if your collaborators are smarter than you? More hardworking? Quicker-thinking? More imaginative? Yes. It’s like playing tennis; you improve only when you play above your level.
p.14 – “The moment you see how important it is to love yourself, you will stop making others suffer.” (Buddha)
p.24 – Much of the history of modern dance in America is the story of female choreographers leading all-female companies. Women often bond to form great teams. I recognize a common impulse when I read about women organizing to clear land mines in the Sudan or to harvest cactus for its healing properties in Mexico.
p.25 – A clearly stated and consciously shared purpose is the foundation of great collaborations.
p.26 – The most important difference between my troupe and a failed start-up is discipline. We made a routine and we honoured it, and if that was sometimes inconvenient, we sucked it up and got ourselves to rehearsals, on time, and ready to work.
Collaboration doesn’t flourish if people decide to get together “whenever.” It’s remarkably effective, however, when partners set a schedule and establish a routine – when working together becomes a habit.
p.27 – Are you and your partner equally dependable?
p.39 – We had respected our differences and then analyzed them to find new ways of recombining.
p.40 – “It is not the strongest species that survives, not the most intelligent,” Charles Darwin wrote in 1859. “It is the one that is most adaptable to change.”
p.93 – Back in the days of three television networks, a handful of film studios, and a dozen theatres near Times Square, we could talk about “audience” as if there were only one. Of course, there was some fringe culture, but compared to mainstream media it wasn’t much. All of America, it seemed, knew who had appeared on Ed Sullivan on Sunday and could speak knowledgeably about the Saturday night movie.
p.102 – In 1897, Leo Tolstoy anticipated all this in a book called What Is Art? As a Christian and a moralist, he distinguished between “good” and “bad” art. In essence, he argued that “bad” art makes us feel alone; “good” art promotes feelings of brotherhood.
p.113 – Intimacy married to creativity – it’s hard to resist, this idea of working with people you know and like.
p.114 – A good collaborator is easier to find than a good friend. But in the hierarchy of values, I find it hard to top a real friend. If you’ve got a true friendship, you want to protect that. To work together is to risk it.
p.119 – From Milos Forman, I learned that collaboration depends on very precise communication – speaking to the right person at the right time in the right way.
• Aim high
• Everything – and everyone – matters
• If you do things right along the way, the end takes care of itself
• Creative disagreements between sympathetic collaborators spur new ideas
• A willingness to try for the unknown can be a strong bond
• Only those who go too far know how far they can go
p.13 – At first it may seem unnatural to show up and care more about collaborative project than about your personal advancement, but once you start ignoring your comfort level, you’re on your way. Even if your collaborators are smarter than you? More hardworking? Quicker-thinking? More imaginative? Yes. It’s like playing tennis; you improve only when you play above your level.
p.14 – “The moment you see how important it is to love yourself, you will stop making others suffer.” (Buddha)
p.24 – Much of the history of modern dance in America is the story of female choreographers leading all-female companies. Women often bond to form great teams. I recognize a common impulse when I read about women organizing to clear land mines in the Sudan or to harvest cactus for its healing properties in Mexico.
p.25 – A clearly stated and consciously shared purpose is the foundation of great collaborations.
p.26 – The most important difference between my troupe and a failed start-up is discipline. We made a routine and we honoured it, and if that was sometimes inconvenient, we sucked it up and got ourselves to rehearsals, on time, and ready to work.
Collaboration doesn’t flourish if people decide to get together “whenever.” It’s remarkably effective, however, when partners set a schedule and establish a routine – when working together becomes a habit.
p.27 – Are you and your partner equally dependable?
p.39 – We had respected our differences and then analyzed them to find new ways of recombining.
p.40 – “It is not the strongest species that survives, not the most intelligent,” Charles Darwin wrote in 1859. “It is the one that is most adaptable to change.”
p.93 – Back in the days of three television networks, a handful of film studios, and a dozen theatres near Times Square, we could talk about “audience” as if there were only one. Of course, there was some fringe culture, but compared to mainstream media it wasn’t much. All of America, it seemed, knew who had appeared on Ed Sullivan on Sunday and could speak knowledgeably about the Saturday night movie.
p.102 – In 1897, Leo Tolstoy anticipated all this in a book called What Is Art? As a Christian and a moralist, he distinguished between “good” and “bad” art. In essence, he argued that “bad” art makes us feel alone; “good” art promotes feelings of brotherhood.
p.113 – Intimacy married to creativity – it’s hard to resist, this idea of working with people you know and like.
p.114 – A good collaborator is easier to find than a good friend. But in the hierarchy of values, I find it hard to top a real friend. If you’ve got a true friendship, you want to protect that. To work together is to risk it.
p.119 – From Milos Forman, I learned that collaboration depends on very precise communication – speaking to the right person at the right time in the right way.
• Aim high
• Everything – and everyone – matters
• If you do things right along the way, the end takes care of itself
• Creative disagreements between sympathetic collaborators spur new ideas
• A willingness to try for the unknown can be a strong bond
• Only those who go too far know how far they can go
February 3, 2019
Artist. Trailblazer. Narcissist.
World history is littered with thousands of such individuals.
Now add: Dancer. Choreographer. Woman. Inventor of Unusual Productions Involving Popular Music Artists
The list gets much smaller and invariably leads to Twyla Tharp.
This book is a quick read, following up on the success of the brilliant and highly recommended The Creative Habit. Overall, while I found some of her advice and stories helpful, it was difficult to overcome her grand sense of self. Only a few times did any reverence for others appear. For example, on p. 103 regarding a lecture, she writes, "I don't cater to the audience....the more challenging the material, the more important it is not to dumb it down". That statement sums up much of Ms. Tharp's worldview.
I recommend reading The Creative Habit instead.
World history is littered with thousands of such individuals.
Now add: Dancer. Choreographer. Woman. Inventor of Unusual Productions Involving Popular Music Artists
The list gets much smaller and invariably leads to Twyla Tharp.
This book is a quick read, following up on the success of the brilliant and highly recommended The Creative Habit. Overall, while I found some of her advice and stories helpful, it was difficult to overcome her grand sense of self. Only a few times did any reverence for others appear. For example, on p. 103 regarding a lecture, she writes, "I don't cater to the audience....the more challenging the material, the more important it is not to dumb it down". That statement sums up much of Ms. Tharp's worldview.
I recommend reading The Creative Habit instead.
December 12, 2021
In this follow-up to The Creative Habit, choreographer Twyla Tharp shares tips and insights about collaboration, gathered over the course of her long career. Tharp views collaboration broadly, even considering her audiences a collaborative partner. The book also considers everything from collaboration with a book, to a single creative partner, to large groups of dancers.
Once again, I’m amazed at how well Tharp’s ideas about work habits apply beyond dance. Just like The Creative Habit, The Collaborative Habit emphasizes the universal and presents it in a thoughtful, engaging way. For me, this book was also enhanced by listening to some of the music Tharp references in connection to dances she’s choreographed—notably Autumn Ball of the Elves by Vladimir Martynov.
Once again, I’m amazed at how well Tharp’s ideas about work habits apply beyond dance. Just like The Creative Habit, The Collaborative Habit emphasizes the universal and presents it in a thoughtful, engaging way. For me, this book was also enhanced by listening to some of the music Tharp references in connection to dances she’s choreographed—notably Autumn Ball of the Elves by Vladimir Martynov.
February 28, 2023
I enjoyed Tharp's accounts of the dance world and her collaborations with other artists, particularly musicians.
I felt aspects of the book needed fleshing out more. Still, some interesting insights from a heavyweight.
I felt aspects of the book needed fleshing out more. Still, some interesting insights from a heavyweight.
January 29, 2018
Авторский взгляд на совместную работу. Хорошо и не затянуто.
October 30, 2016
Start to end brilliant anecdotes, and thoughtfully crafted calls to reconsider our habits when collaborating with others. This should be required reading for educators everywhere. Were this not a library book I would have ended up highlighting every sentence.
March 7, 2024
interesting read for dance/theatre enthusiasts. the collaborative tips are helpful in any situation.
September 9, 2018
Not quite The Creative Habit, Tharp's previous book which is a stone-cold classic about creativity and, at times, seems to be more about stories fro, her storied career rather than any real takeaway for the reader. Still, Twyla Tharp is probably one of the world's great teaching artists, with a better sense and how to communicate how art is made and what we learn from the process in developing our known. There's not as much wisdom here (its a significantly shorter book than The Creative Habit) but what there is, anyone who likes to make things and live in their own creative spirit can learn from it.
January 9, 2022
This book is more of the partnership than of collaboration in teams. It contains a lot references to dancing groups, cooperation with musicians, and focuses solely on authors personal experience with conclusions coming from that experience.
July 12, 2018
Wish I’d Liked It More.
The author, a dancer and choreographer, has had many opportunities to collaborate in her career, and while she offers some interesting insights around the concept of collaboration, I found the text disorganized and rambling throughout. A bit ‘stream of consciousness’ at times, which I’m certainly not opposed to in general, but I frequently found myself asking, “Wait, what was the original point here?” And then I’d flip back a few pages to the section heading to remind myself. It just didn’t flow well. I started the book months ago, and kept putting it down in favor of something else. But I do like to finish books, always looking for that redeeming quality. I highlighted a few inspiring, well-written nuggets here and there, but I’m glad it’s finished, and I doubt I’ll revisit it.
The author, a dancer and choreographer, has had many opportunities to collaborate in her career, and while she offers some interesting insights around the concept of collaboration, I found the text disorganized and rambling throughout. A bit ‘stream of consciousness’ at times, which I’m certainly not opposed to in general, but I frequently found myself asking, “Wait, what was the original point here?” And then I’d flip back a few pages to the section heading to remind myself. It just didn’t flow well. I started the book months ago, and kept putting it down in favor of something else. But I do like to finish books, always looking for that redeeming quality. I highlighted a few inspiring, well-written nuggets here and there, but I’m glad it’s finished, and I doubt I’ll revisit it.
June 16, 2018
https://leiturasdelaura.blogspot.com/...
Twyla Tharp é uma bailarina e coreógrafa de muito sucesso. Seu currículo inclui musicais da Broadway (exemplo: Hair), filmes de Hollywood (exemplos: Hair e Sol da Meia Noite) e trabalhos com grandes companhias de dança. Sem esquecer mais de um trabalho com a lenda Mikhail Baryshnikov.
Essa não é a primeira publicação da Twyla (sempre com a participação de algum escritor profissional) em temas adjacentes à dança que podem servir para qualquer pessoa (em outras palavras, autoajuda). Mas, essa é a primeira que eu leio.
Como alguém que já leu diversos textos que falam de administração, trabalho em equipe e organização, eu confesso que eu esperava algo mais do texto da Twyla. Talvez algo diferente que ela, por ter uma vivência muito específica no meio da dança, pudesse trazer e que tivesse pelo menos cara de novidade.
Nada disso. Não há nada de novo nesse livro.
O que valeu a pena então? As histórias. Com uma bagagem invejável na história da dança contemporânea norte-americana e uma variedade incrível de parcerias em tudo quanto é tipo de área artística, a melhor parte do livro são justamente essas histórias.
Caso você queira ler um livro sobre trabalho em equipe que não seja chato e repletos de exemplos corporativos, este é uma boa opção.
Caso você espere algo revolucionário, deixe para lá. Esse não é o livro para você.
Caso você goste de anedotas do mundo artístico, especialmente da dança, esse livro vai te agradar, apesar das inúmeras passagens marcadas, bem estilo autoajuda, que em tese servem para você se lembrar do resumo do que a autora quer passar.
Twyla Tharp é uma bailarina e coreógrafa de muito sucesso. Seu currículo inclui musicais da Broadway (exemplo: Hair), filmes de Hollywood (exemplos: Hair e Sol da Meia Noite) e trabalhos com grandes companhias de dança. Sem esquecer mais de um trabalho com a lenda Mikhail Baryshnikov.
Essa não é a primeira publicação da Twyla (sempre com a participação de algum escritor profissional) em temas adjacentes à dança que podem servir para qualquer pessoa (em outras palavras, autoajuda). Mas, essa é a primeira que eu leio.
Como alguém que já leu diversos textos que falam de administração, trabalho em equipe e organização, eu confesso que eu esperava algo mais do texto da Twyla. Talvez algo diferente que ela, por ter uma vivência muito específica no meio da dança, pudesse trazer e que tivesse pelo menos cara de novidade.
Nada disso. Não há nada de novo nesse livro.
O que valeu a pena então? As histórias. Com uma bagagem invejável na história da dança contemporânea norte-americana e uma variedade incrível de parcerias em tudo quanto é tipo de área artística, a melhor parte do livro são justamente essas histórias.
Caso você queira ler um livro sobre trabalho em equipe que não seja chato e repletos de exemplos corporativos, este é uma boa opção.
Caso você espere algo revolucionário, deixe para lá. Esse não é o livro para você.
Caso você goste de anedotas do mundo artístico, especialmente da dança, esse livro vai te agradar, apesar das inúmeras passagens marcadas, bem estilo autoajuda, que em tese servem para você se lembrar do resumo do que a autora quer passar.
March 11, 2024
I am not sure how I heard about this book or what I actually expected. Twyla Tharp is The author, a dancer and choreographer and this book is really a series of narratives in a kind of case study format where she share personal reflections on the collaborations that have been successful. I did enjoy those reflections and as someone who is not in the theater I found it very cool there are nuggets of wisdom that I could reflect on in my own life. It also helped the book was an easy read.
With that said this was not the book I was looking for. Or maybe it was not organized in a way that I expected. There were points in time where I lost her point or focus and in that way I just found the stream of consciousness as an entertaining read. I think what I was hoping for are more of the tidbits on the how to as opposed to we did. For example how did agreement come about on a common direction...like at which part was it a collaboration as opposed to the author leading the ship. There were other parts I kind of rejected.
Still a good book, just not what I am seeking at this point in time.
With that said this was not the book I was looking for. Or maybe it was not organized in a way that I expected. There were points in time where I lost her point or focus and in that way I just found the stream of consciousness as an entertaining read. I think what I was hoping for are more of the tidbits on the how to as opposed to we did. For example how did agreement come about on a common direction...like at which part was it a collaboration as opposed to the author leading the ship. There were other parts I kind of rejected.
Still a good book, just not what I am seeking at this point in time.
November 15, 2016
I loved Tharp's book, The Creative Habit, and I use it in the course that I teach on Creativity. The Collaborative Habit focuses on collaborating with different groups of people or organization and discusses ways to maximize collaboration without running into conflict. Tharp explains to the reader how to plan out ideas, create collaboration groups, and work with a multitude of different personalities and roles. She provides examples from her own experiences. I find it more dense than the Creative Habit work, although several chapters can assist students in collaborative projects.
April 7, 2024
Loved Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit so when I saw this book of hers I decided to pick it up. As a dancer and performer I loved the stories she shared, but felt this book was more memoir-based, though still steeped in concepts relating to collaborations it was less about means to go about achieving that or tips about it. The Creative Habit has more exercises, suggestions, and ideas on how to act/implement. Still an enjoyable read and a nice reminder of the importance of community and collaboration.
February 18, 2018
If you are a fan of Twyla and know some of her works or stars she collaborated with, after all, if you come from the dancing world - you probably would admire the book. Since I am not a big fan, I couldn't discover anything catchy for my soul. Frankly, I tried. I discovered some inspirational quotes though, but the book itself was incoherent to me and irrelevant to its naming about the collaborative habit.
March 21, 2021
Companion piece to choreographer Tharp's "The Creative Habit," though this much slimmer volume reads more like an afterthought. For all of her work with fellow artists both notorious - Robbins, Baryshnikov, Sinatra - and accomodating - Forman, Joel, Costello - the advice therein can be found in any similarly themed book on the Business shelf. While that makes it universal wisdom, who's looking for the familiar from such a groundbreaking talent?
September 2, 2023
While it's an abstract read on leadership and collaboration, Tharp's expertise in coordinating people makes her insights practical. I suggest reading it during your commute or travel transitions to maximise your time.
As a quick summary of the book, I will emphasise the importance of flexibility, transparency, and goal-setting. My advises will be to take small steps and find pleasure in the journey towards the goal, rather than just the end result.
As a quick summary of the book, I will emphasise the importance of flexibility, transparency, and goal-setting. My advises will be to take small steps and find pleasure in the journey towards the goal, rather than just the end result.
March 14, 2025
This book is a quick read about the various people or groups you can work with to make something better than doing it alone. Tharp reviews her experience with collaborations and how they have changed her essence.
"So it's the buzzword of the new millennium. But is collaboration a tool we'll continue to use?... Those who have committed to collaboration know better. It does work. It always did. It always will. The only question is whether we're up to it-- whether we're willing to work at it."
"So it's the buzzword of the new millennium. But is collaboration a tool we'll continue to use?... Those who have committed to collaboration know better. It does work. It always did. It always will. The only question is whether we're up to it-- whether we're willing to work at it."
March 6, 2020
This book had been highly recommended. It was interesting. There are some good lessons here for collaboration. And yet, my overall feeling was a bit meh. I think if one was interested in dance and Tharp in particular, it would be a great combination of memoir and lessons in collaboration. But if you are only looking for lessons in collaboration, it feels a bit too memoir-y.
November 28, 2022
Very interesting book about how collaboration works in the world as seen through the world of dance. This book comes off as a memoir wrapped in the package of a business book so there is lots of name dropping and discussion of dance and choreography (of course, given that Tharp is an amazing choreographer.) Still, I learned things and took lots of notes.
June 7, 2017
Quick, to the point. Her discussion on styles of collaboration reach much further than the dance sphere and can be applied to any partnership and/or relationship. It takes time, honesty, commitment, and a solid goal for each collaboration to *ideally* go well. Simple, solid advice.
September 23, 2017
This book felt like a heartfelt tribute to Tharp's collaborators filled with candid reflection. I haven't read The Creative Habit so I don't know how it compares but I did enjoy reading this and found myself impressed by the extent of her collaborations.
January 26, 2018
I loved this exploration of deep and meaningful collaboration. I'm inspired by Tharp's acceptance of others and tireless professionalism. I highlighted copiously, and I think I'll frequently return to the notes.
August 16, 2019
This book was interesting but it actually led me to Twyla Tharp 's THE CREATIVE HABIT book. It is better in giving a fuller description of Ms Tharps secrets to her creative life as a ground breaking dancer and choreographer.
April 11, 2022
Pleasant enough, and a quick read. Honestly, her insights about collaboration were much less interesting than her stories about her many adventures in choreography; I'd almost prefer, I think, to read a full autobiography.
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April 8, 2024Ah, Twyla. This was a fun read - love hearing about her experiences working with different artists, and in different contexts. But sometimes she's like "and then...I realized I should be nice to cab drivers!" ...
March 6, 2025
I realize this is an old book by now (I've had it on my shelf for more than a decade), but I enjoyed the story of Twyla's career and her approach to collaboration. There's nothing groundbreaking in here, but a few nice nuggets/insights.
August 12, 2017
The book tells NOTHING about teamwork or whatsoever...It's mixture of reflexions on the past with a few smart quotes...I regret wasting my money on the book
December 26, 2017
This book discusses a very interesting concept of collaboration, but unfortunately it is very shallow here and can’t teach anything considerable.
February 19, 2019
I would definitely recommend the Creative Habit over this but as a Thwarp fan, I would gladly read anything she publishes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews