Kontakthof

Pina Bausch has been described as one of the most influential choreographers of our time.
Until her death last year she was Director of Tanztheater Wuppertal. Kontakthof is a piece of dance theatre she created in 1978, but in 2000 its creator decided that it should be performed by ordinary people aged 65 or more. Then in 2008 the performers were teenage school children. Both versions were performed in London recently. In a review I read by David Dougill he said the teenagers were admirable, but acting their parts. The "oldies" brought their "lifetimes of experience" and lived the performance.
I like the way this piece of theatre recognises that the feelings and desires of older people are just as worthy of exploration as those of the young. In using these performances in counterpoint it seems that a new level of meaning and emotional response can be found to them. A lesson to be learned from this then?

Heather Hosking