Pina Bausch

Pina Bausch was born 1940 in Solingen and died 2009 in Wuppertal. She received her dance training at the Folkwang School in Essen under Kurt Jooss, where she achieved technical excellence. The director of Wuppertal’s theatres, Arno Wüstenhöfer, engaged her as choreographer in autumn 1973, and soon after she renamed the ensemble the Tanztheater Wuppertal. Under this name, although controversial at the beginning, the company gradually achieved international recognition. Its combination of poetic and everyday elements influenced the international development of dance decisively. Awarded some of the greatest prizes and honours world-wide, Pina Bausch is one of the most significant choreographers of our time.

Discover more
Photo Wilfried Krüger, © Pina Bausch Foundation
Photo Wilfried Krüger, © Pina Bausch Foundation
© Evangelos Rodoulis
© Evangelos Rodoulis

The Background

After Pina Bausch’s death in 2009 the search began in Wuppertal for possible ways to preserve the dancer and choreographer’s artistic heritage in the long term. These discussions led first and foremost to the establishment of the Pina Bausch Foundation, on the initiative of her son, Salomon Bausch, and her partner, Ronald Kay. At the same time discussions continued on the future of Wuppertal’s main theatre, the Schauspielhaus, which had served for years (along with Wuppertal Opera House) as a rehearsal and performance venue for the Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch.

Discover more
© Stadt Wuppertal, Medienzentrum, Antje Zeis-Loi
© Stadt Wuppertal, Medienzentrum, Antje Zeis-Loi

Funding

The figure for the investment needed is 58.4 million euro, along with 5 million euro fitting-out costs (effective 2018). The German government will cover half of these costs. The state of North Rhine-Westphalia has agreed to provide 12.5 million euro, and has already financed the majority of the feasibility studies. The national government will also cover half the cost of any potential price increases for investment and set-up costs, only to a maximum of 8 million euro, however.

Discover more