Pina Bausch: The Biography

by Marion Meyer

The first-ever biography in English of Pina perhaps the most influential performer and choreographer of the 20th century.

Meyer has written an accessible, readable account, with a clear journalistic approach that penetrates the mystique and mythology surrounding Pina's life. Bausch was notoriously shy of discussing her work, yet Meyer's research is underpinned by several quotes from Pina herself, as well as members of her ensemble. As well as illuminating her personal life and her work ethic, it also takes stock of Bausch's legacy and the future for the Tanztheater Wuppertal, the Company she created.

Genres: Biography, Art

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 30, 2017

Reviews

[Marko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pina Bausch was a German choreographer of an amazing and transcendent talent. To those who are unfamiliar with her dance-theater, watch the Oscar-nominated documentary Pina - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1440266/?...

Her work is original, emotional, intelligent, hauntingly beautiful and universal.

[Eden Hammond · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know if there was anything necessarily wrong with the book, and it was very informative for research purposes, but nonfiction just isn’t my cup of tea. Even deeply interested in the subject of theatre and dance, it got very monotonous and difficult to get through, again, from the perspective of a fiction reader. Reading on her specific techniques and history was interesting, but the continual descriptions of her productions got repetitive.

[S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a deep and expansive biography on Bausch's personal life, this is not it. Pina was a private person who worked extremely hard, so this book is about how we see her through the work, and her working relationships. More than half of it reads as a survey of her pieces, which I enjoyed because I've only seen a few of them in their entirety, however, I'd be lying if I didn't say I wanted something more. But Pina remains mysterious and sacred, which is fair and good in its own right.

[cynthia guzman tamares]

Me hubiera gustado que se tratara más de ella y cómo eran sus entrenamientos, cuáles era sus referencias, algún insight sobre sus famosos apuntes. Entiendo que pudo haber sido un reto para la escritora pues ella era una mujer muy privada pero precisamente es eso lo que me intriga. De dónde viene esa grandeza y esa búsqueda de la excelencia.
Desafortunadamente se trató de una simple biografía de sus montajes y al final unas opiniones genéricas de sus bailarines sobre la artista. 6/10

[pelekas · Rating 2 out of 5]

pasirodo, įmanoma apie tokią įdomią asmenybę parašyti tokią nuobodžią knygą

[Toby Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit of a janky translation and a bit surface-level in its analysis of Bausch’s work. I think I was after something that lived up to Pina herself so I guess I it was only ever going to disappoint.

[Nora Blue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many biographers over state their subject's influence. Meyer claims Bausch created the tanzteatr. Perhaps in the sense she reinterpreted tanzteatr for her life and times. Based on the descriptions of the dance works Meyer provides reminds me of Anna Halprin's choreography of the sixties and seventies. As well as a biography of Bausch the book is a biography of the company and some of the dancer's in it. Dance, dance, otherwise we are lost . . .