The Fugue is an early Twyla Tharp work from 1970, a variation piece with a hypertechnical theme. The work relies on a 20 count movement sequence that is then varied 20 times, with variations of movement from retrograde to inversion to tempo shifts to counter rhythms. The challenge here is you need to keep track of the 20 variations. The movements must be very precise, with a trio of dancers counting separately and then needing to sync up. For the dancers, it’s rigorous. For the crowds, it’s both a rousing spectacle and a choreographic education, which gives viewers a chance to understand the tools that a choreographer has at their disposal.

The Fugue, a popular part of Gibney Company’s repertoire, is a nice compliment to another of Twarp’s work, Bach Duet.

You can see Gibney Company perform this work in 2024 at Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur; the Chautauqua Institution; and Jacob’s Pillow.

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Gibney and Photographer Whitney Browne