Nelken

Choreographed By Pina Bausch (12/30/1982)

Nelken Homepage

"Nelken" translates into "Carnations" which is an appropriate name based on the set. The stage is covered with upright planted carnations, forcing the dancers to be careful where they step. It was first performed on December 30, 1982, in cooperation with Matthias Burkert and Hans Pop. The scenic design was by Peter Pabst, and Costume design by Marion Cito.

This was the fifth of her pieces credited to utilize a dramaturg. Raimund Hoghe was her dramaturg from 1979 to 1987, before becoming highly in demand as a dancer and performance artist. She has never worked with another Dramaturg.

The piece lasts two hours pieced into snippets of different imagery. Themes are the balance of power, fear and threat, and bounces between serious and absurd, through the use of childhood games, a signed song and the ever present threat of dancers walk guard dogs on patrol. At one point a guard asks a dancer dressed as a bunny for his passport, and only one he is satisfied, the bunny is allowed to continue hopping. The dancers not only talk on stage but talk about their roles as dancers and their performance, pushing away norms of performance.

Original performers include: Jacob Andersen, Anne Marie Benati, Bénédicte Billiet, Matthias Burkert, Lutz Förster, Kyomi Ichida, Urs Kaufmann, Ed Kortlandt, Anne Martin, Dominique Mercy, Jan Minarik, Nazareth Panadero, Helena Pikon, Hans Pop, Jean-Laurent Sasportes, Janusz Subicz, and Francis Viet.

"'Nelken': Songs the color of carnations, flowers like wounds" By Ramsay Burt; Ballet Dance Magazine
"Pina Bausch: Nelken, Sadler's Wells, London" By Zoe Anderson

Cafe Muller

Choreographed By Pina Bausch (05/20/1978)

Cafe Mueller Homepage

The piece Cafe Muller was first presented in 1978, and most recently presented in New York City, in February 2008. The piece is 30 minutes long and origional scenic and costume design were by Rolf Borzik. In this piece Pina "drew on childhood memories of the cafe her parents ran," creating a piece comprising of 6 individuals and their tortured interactions. The pieces are physically demanding and often involve the movement of the various pieces of furniature and doors crowded onto the stage. The orgional performers were Malou Airaudo, Pina Bausch, Meryl Tankard,Rolf Borzik, Dominique Mercy, and Jan Minarik. Music was composed by Henry Purcell.

Times Online: "Pina Bausch Cafe Muller" By David Dougill

Pina Bausch

Pina Bausch is a German contemporary choreographer and dancer. She was born on July 27, 1940 in Solingen, Germany which is located in the middle of Germany and is known for manufacturing blades, knives and swrods. It's name means "City of Blades."

She began choreographing pieces in 1968 and to this day her work is considered a national asset and performances are attended by the German Federal President and Prime Minster. She has won 65 awards world wide including several from the Us as well as an Order Of Merit First Class form the President of the Federal Republic of Germany.

She is the leader of the Tanztheater style of dance based in the expressionist movement, along with her peer Susanne Linke. The style incorporates small amounts of dialogue as well as elaborate sets and costumes to create an often sureealsitic picture. At age 15, she began studying at the Folkwang Academy in Essen, studying the expressionist dance movement, before moving to New York and studying at Julliard five years later. She danced with the Donya Feuer Dance Company, New American Ballet and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet Company before moving back to Germany. There she danced with the Folkwang Ballett Company, and grew to become it's Artistic Director. In 1972, she became the Artistic Director of the Wuppertal Opera Ballet which was later renamed the Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch company. Pina Bausch has ben touring the world with this company ever since.

She was married to a costume and scenic designer by the name of Rolf Borzik, who passed away in 1980 and whom designed both the set and costumes on many of her pieces. Themes in her work are repition, and the interactions between males and females. She uses contemporary, classcal and even rock music to create a unique style. Her work has influenced dance worldwide and even inspired films such as the 2002 film by Pedro Almodovar entitled "Talk To Her."

She died this year (2009).









"Vollmond"/"Full Moon" - May 11, 2006





Pina Bausch's Website

"Bausch Meets Almodovar in New Film" By Susan Yung - danceinsider.coma