CPPM GUEST ARTIST

Eddie Martinez

Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch

Germany

Workshop
15.-26.09.2025

Open class
26.09.2025 19:00
EMTA black box

Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch is one of the most influential and visionary dance theatre companies in the world. Founded in 1973 by the legendary choreographer Pina Bausch, the company revolutionised contemporary performance by forging a new artistic language that blurred the boundaries between dance, theatre, voice, and visual art. With its emotionally charged imagery, poetic physicality, and deep exploration of human experience, Bausch’s work transformed the ensemble into a global icon of innovation and artistic integrity.

For over five decades, Tanztheater Wuppertal has captivated audiences and inspired generations of artists, touring internationally to critical acclaim while remaining rooted in its home city of Wuppertal. Today, the company remains dedicated to preserving and performing Pina Bausch’s groundbreaking repertoire, while also opening space for bold new creations that carry her spirit of curiosity and risk. At the heart of Tanztheater Wuppertal is a belief in the expressive power of the human body and a legacy that continues to shape the future of dance and theatre worldwide.

Eddie Martinez

Eddie Martinez has been a longstanding member of Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, where he has played a crucial role in preserving and passing on the legacy of one of the most influential figures in modern dance. Born and raised in Newton, Kansas, Martinez began his dance journey at Wichita State University. After graduating, he moved to New York City, spending seven formative years performing with various companies and honing his artistic voice.

In 1995, Martinez took a significant step by joining Tanztheater Wuppertal, founded by Pina Bausch in 1973. Since then, he has become a vital interpreter of Bausch’s unique artistic vision, which has forever altered the landscape of contemporary dance and theatre. Known for their emotional intensity and subtle physicality, the company’s performers must embody both exceptional technical skill and deep psychological insight. Martinez’s performances exemplify this: powerful, layered, and profoundly moving.

He has contributed to the original creation of many of Bausch’s most celebrated works, including Palermo Palermo, Água, Arias, Bamboo Blues, …como el musguito en la piedra, ay sí, sí, sí…, Der Fensterputzer, Nur Du, Ten Chi, Two Cigarettes in the Dark, Wiesenland, Die sieben Todsünden, Iphigenie auf Tauris, Komm tanz mit mir, Legend of Chastity, Auf dem Gebirge hat man ein Geschrei gehört, Ahnen, Nefés, Masurca Fogo, Das Stück mit dem Schiff, Bon Voyage, Bob, and 1980 – Ein Stück von Pina Bausch.

Martinez’s long-standing tenure within the company means he possesses profound knowledge of Bausch’s creative process, which is rooted in personal exploration, improvisation, and fearless emotional enquiry. As a senior ensemble member, he also mentors younger dancers, helping to preserve the integrity of the company’s repertoire and ensuring that the spirit of Bausch’s work continues to resonate with audiences around the globe.

Since 2012, Martinez has expanded his artistic practice to include teaching and choreography. Through international workshops, he shares his invaluable expertise in performance-making, drawing on decades of experience within one of the most demanding and inventive ensembles in the world.

He also maintains a strong connection to the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, where he contributes to the international master’s programme in Contemporary Physical Performance Making (CPPM). His workshops provide students with rare access to the embodied knowledge and methodology of Tanztheater Wuppertal, enabling emerging artists to explore Bausch’s legacy firsthand and engage with the rigorous, transformative practice of contemporary dance-theatre.

About the workshop

This workshop offers a unique and intimate opportunity to delve into Bausch’s groundbreaking methods, exploring the core principles that defined her revolutionary approach to dance-theatre.

Participants will engage in a deeply experiential journey, moving beyond conventional dance techniques to unlock the profound connection between movement, emotion, and personal narrative. Through a series of practical exercises, guided improvisations, and insightful discussions, you’ll discover how everyday gestures and seemingly simple actions can transform into powerful, theatrical statements. Martinez, with his unparalleled insight as a long-standing company member and direct inheritor of Bausch’s artistic philosophy, will share first-hand knowledge of her unique investigative process. This includes an exploration of “questioning” as a choreographic tool, where performers draw from their own memories, associations, and experiences to inform the movement and dramatic content.

This workshop is an invitation to uncover your own expressive potential within the rich and challenging landscape of Tanztheater. It’s suitable for dancers, performers, and anyone interested in exploring a deeper, more personal approach to performance creation. Prepare to engage your body, mind, and spirit in a creative dialogue that will forever change your understanding of what dance can be.

Join the full workshop

Join this intensive 10-day workshop, a unique opportunity to train alongside the MA students of Contemporary Physical Performance Making (CPPM) at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Full details on schedule, fees, and application process are available on our Open Workshops website