Kontakthof – Echoes of '78
An encounter with Pina Bausch’s piece Kontakthof
Conceived and Directed by Meryl Tankard
With the original cast from 1978
World Premiere
26 November 2024, Opernhaus Wuppertal
Idea
Originally premiered in 1978, Kontakthof is a seminal piece in Pina Bausch’s repertoire, created at a time when her work was beginning to receive international recognition.
It is said that Pina often mused on the idea of seeing her original cast dance the piece when older. Now, 46 years later, a new encounter with Kontakthof is being created by choreographer Meryl Tankard, who was one of the main characters in 1978.
Nine of the original dancers return to their roles as the production creates a poignant interaction between past and present. Kontakthof – Echoes of ‘78 integrates projections of archival footage from their performances as younger dancers, and with company members no longer on stage.
Cast
Credits
Video Director: Meryl Tankard
Video Editor: Kenny Ang
Projection Designers: YeastCulture
Lighting Designer: Ryan Joseph Stafford
Sound Designer: David McEwan
Artistic Assistant to the Director: Cristiana Morganti
Artistic Collaborator: Bénédicte Billiet
Rehearsal Assistant and Rehearsal Dancer: Sophia Otto
Original archival footage: Rolf Borzik
Production
Kontakthof – Echoes of ’78 is a Sadler’s Wells, Pina Bausch Foundation and Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch production. It is co-produced with Amare (The Hague), LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura, Festspielhaus St. Pölten, Seongnam Arts Center and China Shanghai International Arts Festival and supported as a contribution to the preparation of the Pina Bausch Centre with funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the City of Wuppertal.
