Pina Bausch’s arrival as director of the ballet department of the Wuppertaler Bühnen in 1973, opend up an artistic renewal leading towards the renaming »Wuppertaler Tanztheater«. At first, the unfamiliar genre challenged the audience.  But the in-house ensemble soon celebrated national and international success with its productions, contributing significantly to the flourishing development of the new genre of dance theatre. During Bausch’s lifetime, the ensemble distinguished itself with choreographic elements taken from real life. In 1999 the company expanded its name to »Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch«. Since Bausch died in 2009, the ensemble has maintained the choreographer’s lifework while expanding its repertoire through collaborations with guest choreographers.