‘How does a solo untrained dancer’s experience differ from a solo classically trained dancer when exploring Pina Bausch’s techniques in a rehearsal process?’

Abstract

This study seeks to explore how a solo untrained dancer’s experience may differ from a solo classically trained dancer experience when exploring Pina Bausch’s techniques in a rehearsal process. Pina Bausch was a choreographer and practitioner who relied heavily on her dancers to help her produce work through a question and response method. Pina Bausch was the outside eye in this process and was there to question her dancers and get them to draw their responses from their personal experiences and their lives. Pina Bausch started her career as a classically trained dancer who then went on to look at contemporary dance and experimented with performance techniques until she created a structure in which she completely revolutionised dance and the arts. This study takes a unique look at Bausch’s rehearsal process and how ‘valuable’ classical dance training is for this field of work. Furthermore, this project aims to see if this dance training is beneficial or a hinderance when using Bausch’s methods and techniques in a rehearsal process. Therefore, this study looks to see just how accessible Bausch’s rehearsal process is for anyone who may be interested in partaking in rehearsals of a similar manner. In order to answer the question at the forefront of this study a relevant literature review has been formed in order to piece together consistent and coherent workshops based on Bausch’s rehearsal methods and techniques, this process was then used as the basis for the practical research. This study is comprised of a written report and a DVD which documents the practice through practical workshops.