Pina Bausch and German Tanztheater

Pina Bausch (1940–2009) was a famous German dancer and director; she is also considered one of the founders of the German “dance theatre.” She began her career as an actress, but later moved into directing. Her unique approach was to create performances as dancers’ responses to the choreographer’s questions about vital themes. One of Bausch’s best-known productions is “The Rite of Spring,” which became a cult phenomenon in the world of ballet. Earlier, the German dance scene had been marked by expressionism, represented by the works of Kurt Jooss and Mary Wigman.