Twyla Tharp and the Opportunities of Barnard

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend a lecture on campus given by alumna Twyla Tharp about her work “Treefrog in Stonehenge.” Barnard and Columbia students also performed the piece last weekend as a part of an annual show, Barnard/Columbia Dances, produced by the Barnard Dance Department.

What may be even more exciting to you, as incoming Barnard students, is that Twyla Tharp will be a guest artist at Barnard for this upcoming year! She will be involved with lectures, master classes, interdisciplinary projects, among other things.

As I sat and listened to this woman, whose presence and work is so well-known in the dance world, I thought about how this sort of opportunity wouldn’t exist for me if I weren’t at Barnard. Outside of the dance world, Barnard attracts and produces fantastic people who are very willing to share their experiences in so many subject areas. While I’ve been able to hear spectacular guests talk at Barnard, I’ve also had wonderful experiences with my professors and friends. I have gotten to learn things from conversations with my peers that I could never learn in a classroom. These friends have taught me about staying happy and working hard.



Prof W.H. Haller conducting English class in the Jungle, circa 1946.
Courtesy of the Barnard College Archives.

It’s bittersweet for me to think that with the close of my sophomore year approaching, my time at Barnard is nearing half over. I only have two more years to be surrounded by the great people and fabulous opportunities that Barnard offers.

Obviously, I hope you choose Barnard. Barnard is fantastic. The people here make it an enthusiastic, intellectually stimulating environment like I’ve never experienced elsewhere. I hope you are able to make the most of your Barnard experience in a way that works for you. And if you come to Barnard, and you see me around campus in the fall, I’d love to meet you and learn from you too!

Margeaux