Pina Bausch

Pina Bausch

Vollmond Solo

Vollmond - Full moon

Biography

• Pina Bausch (1940–2009) was a German dancer and choreographer.

• Her style combined expressive movement, sound, and stage designs.

• Her work greatly influenced modern dance from the 1970s onward.
• She founded Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, which still performs worldwide.

• Pina Bausch performed with top choreographers in New York, including Paul Taylor.

• In 1962, she joined Folkwang Ballet and worked closely with Kurt Jooss.
• In 1969, she became the artistic director of Folkwang Ballet.
• In 1973, Pina Bausch became artistic director of Tanztheater Wuppertal.
• The company, later renamed Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, gained worldwide recognition.
• Notable works include:

Frühlingsopfer (The Rite of Spring) (1975) – performed on a stage covered in soil.Café Müller (1985) – dancers move blindly, crashing into furniture.

Career

Café Müller

The Rite of Spring

Artistry

• Blending Art Forms: Bausch combined dance, theater, sound, and elaborate stage design to create emotionally powerful performances.
• Collaboration: She engaged her dancers in the creative process, incorporating their personal experiences into her work.
• Expressionist Roots: Influenced by German Ausdruckstanz (expressive dance), she moved away from classical ballet’s structured forms.
• Themes of Trauma & Relationships: Many of her works explored deep emotional and psychological struggles, particularly in human relationships.
• Minimal Narrative: Her pieces often lacked a traditional plot or setting, focusing instead on raw movement and emotion.
• Repetition & Gesture: Inspired by American modern dance (Martha Graham, José Limón, Antony Tudor), she used repetitive movements to emphasize emotion and tension.
• Artistic Philosophy: She believed art should challenge audiences rather than simply entertain: "We are not only here to please."

Legacy

• Early Criticism – Faced strong resistance for her dark, psychological themes; later became widely celebrated.
• Revolutionized Dance Theater – Pioneered Tanztheater, blending dance, theater, and expressive movement.
• Challenged Ballet Conventions – Rejected traditional ballet in favor of emotional, abstract choreography.
• Global Recognition – Awarded the Laurence Olivier Award, Goethe Prize, Kyoto Prize, and more.

• Influenced Modern Choreographers – Inspired artists like Dimitris Papaioannou, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, and Les Ballets C de la B.
• Honored in Film & Music – Wim Wenders’ documentary Pina (2011) and references in David Bowie’s Glass Spider Tour (1987).
• Tanztheater Wuppertal Lives On – Her company continues to perform worldwide, maintaining her artistic legacy.