In 1958, Pina Bausch graduated with honours in stage dance and dance pedagogy at the then Essen Folkwang School – the prelude to an unprecedented career, in the course of which Bausch became one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th century, breaking new ground with her dance ensemble at the Tanztheater Wuppertal.
See also: Collecting Opera and Ballet in Art
From the 2022/23 winter semester, Pina Bausch (†2009) will return to her alma mater, so to speak, with the Folkwang University of the Arts’ Pina Bausch professorship, made possible by the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia and funded by the Art Foundation NRW. The programme will be characterised by an interdisciplinary approach, whereby the appointed artists are free to choose the topics and assignments. Performance artist Marina Abramović will be the first guest professor for one year.
“The contact with the most diverse disciplines at the Folkwang had a strong influence on my mother. During this time she got to know great artists, and many important connections and friendships developed from this. I wish for the students experiences for their life. They will certainly never forget Marina Abramović..." said Salomon Bausch, Pina Bausch's son and founder and CEO of the Pina Bausch Foundation, who helped develop the idea for the professorship.
Marina Abramović has been a performance artist for almost 50 years. Today, she is the best-known international representative of this genre. As she takes part in political and artistic projects with her sensational productions, she also deals with her own biography, for which she has received numerous awards.
See also: An Interview with Marina Abramović
"I will always regret never having met Pina Bausch in person. She understood profoundly the emotions triggered by the physical actions so close to performance art. Feelings are real when actions are real. I am so honoured to be the first professor to teach at the Folkwang University of Art, echoing the memory of Pina Bausch”, said Marina Abramović in a press release.
