This post comes to us from Elizabeth Kramer.
Many cultural pundits are still commenting on the dance talent of Michael Jackson, but now the world has lost a pioneer choreographer. Pina Bausch died today at the age of 68 — only five days after being diagnosed with cancer, according to the Associated Press.
The German choreographer is noted for making dance, including ballet, more contemporary. She was the artistic director and choreographer of the Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch company, based in Wuppertal in Germany.
She also created choreography for films, including Pedro Almodóvar’s Talk to Her, and appeared in Federico Fellini’s And the Ship Sails On.
In 1975, Bausch created choreography to Stravinsky’s iconic music, the Rite of Spring.
(I included this in my report on the Louisville Ballet’s recent debut of Adam Hougland’s choreography to the same music with New York City Ballet dancer Wendy Whelan dancing the main role.)
NPR aired a profile of the artist in 2004.
