Undated portrait of controversial German choreographer Pina Bausch. Born in June 1940 in Solinger, Bausch began her dance studies at Folkwang School in Essen with expressionist choreographer Kurt Joss. After her graduation, Bausch went to New York in 1960 to study at the Juillard School of Music, New York. At the same time, she performed with the Paul Sanasardo and Donya Feuer Dance Co and the New American Ballet. In 1972, Bausch was offered the directorship of the Wuppertal Opera Ballet. Not longer after her arrival, the company became the Wuppertaler Tanztheater Pina Bausch.