Pina Bausch and the Tanztheater

Pina Bausch (1940–2009) is recognised as a pioneer of modern dance theatre and as one of the most influential choreographers of the twentieth century. The exhibition is the first to present her work to a wider public. Taking its starting point in the workshop talk she gave in 2007 when she won the prestigious Kyoto Prize, the exhibition provides insights into the work of Pina Bausch. The focus is not only on the work in terms of staged performances but above all on the very foundations of the choreographer’s oeuvre, on her creative practice and on the key aspects and people that have accompanied and shaped her progress. The objects, installations, photographs and videos presented are drawn from the unique holdings of the Pina Bausch Archives.

At the heart of the exhibition is the reconstruction of the Lichtburg, the legendary rehearsal space in an old Wuppertal cinema, in which Pina Bausch developed most of her pieces with her dancers. Outsiders are rarely admitted to this intimate space. At the Martin-Gropius-Bau it becomes a space in which visitors can meet members of the company who will introduce them to characteristic dance theatre movements and short sequences of moves. Performances, dance workshops, public rehearsals, conversations, films and much more transform the rehearsal studio into a vibrant, experiential space.