Pina Bausch revolutionized stage dance with her Tanztheater Wuppertal. Once heavily criticized as a provocateur, the creator of the dance theater genre is now celebrated worldwide. What are the reasons for this unprecedented success? What makes Bausch's works so unique, despite raising many questions? Rika Schulze-Reuber decodes how Pina Bausch manages to create exciting and captivating dance theater in her insightful book. She traces the development of stage dance up to today's performers, focusing on the unique work of Pina Bausch. Through numerous selected pieces, she guides the reader towards understanding the challenging and idiosyncratic creations of an extraordinary woman who captivates people across all cultural boundaries. Wuppertal author Rika Schulze-Reuber has closely observed Pina Bausch's dance theater for over three decades. Her behind-the-scenes perspective is characterized by a high degree of authenticity. Photographer Jochen Viehoff complements the engaging text with a wealth of expressive black-and-white photos.