Pina Bausch extravaganza for London 2012

Posted on March 23, 2011

Sadler’s Wells and the Barbican Centre are collaborating for the first time to present an unprecedented season of ten works by Pina Bausch, one of the most influential choreographers in dance. The season runs from June 6–July 12, 2012, as part of the Olympic celebrations. Tickets go on sale on May 9, 2011.

Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch: World Cities 2012 will be the first ever continuous season of works by Bausch and her company. Seven of the works will be receiving their UK premieres. Bausch, who died in 2009, embarked on her landmark series of international co-productions in 1986. Each work was created at the invitation of specific global cities. Bausch and her renowned multinational company would live in each city for a period of time, then return to Wuppertal to create a new work inspired by their visit.

The ten works performed in the London season are:

Viktor (1986)

Rome, Italy

June 6–7, Sadler’s Wells

Nur Du (Only You) (1996)

California, USA

UK premiere

June 9–10, Barbican

…como el musguito en la piedra, ay si si si… (2009)

Santiago, Chile

UK premiere

June 12–13, Sadler’s Wells

Bamboo Blues (2007)

India

UK premiere

June 15–16, Barbican

Der Fensterputzer (The Window Washer) (1997)

Hong Kong, China

UK premiere

June 18–19, Sadler’s Wells

Ten Chi (2004)

Japan

UK premiere

June 21–22, Barbican

Néfés (2003)

Istanbul, Turkey

UK premiere

June 24–25, Sadler’s Wells

Água (2001)

Brazil

June 28–29, Barbican

Palermo Palermo (1989)

Palermo, Sicily

July 1–2, Sadler’s Wells

Wiesenland (2000)

Budapest, Hungary

UK premiere

July 8–9, Sadler’s Wells

The season was commissioned by Sadler’s Wells in association with Cultural Industry and the Barbican, with thanks to Wuppertal, North Rhine Westphalia and Arts Council England. Tickets will be on sale from www.sadlerswells.com or 0844 412 4300 and from www.barbican.org.uk or 0845 120 7550.

Picture: Bamboo Blues. Photograph: Angelos Giotopolous.

Zoe Anderson

Zoë was born in Edinburgh, and saw her first dance performances at the Festival there. She is the dance critic of The Independent, and has also written for The Independent on Sunday, The Scotsman and Dancing Times. In 2002, she received her doctorate from the University of York for a thesis on “Nationhood and epic romance: Ariosto, Sidney, Spenser”. She is the author of The Royal Ballet: 75 Years and The Ballet Lover’s Companion.