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Information

1973begin of collaboration with Pina Bausch
1973 to 1991

dancer of the Tanztheater Wuppertal

1994 to 1999

assistant from Pina Bausch and training director of the Tanztheater Wuppertal


Biography

Ed Kortlandt

was born in Amersfoort, Netherlands, in 1945. His father was a university professor, his mother a medical doctor. At the tender age of eight, while at holiday camp, he had a pivotal dance experience: he watched the camp leader and his daughter dance a polka. From then on, folk dance dictated how Kortlandt spent his free time. From 1961 to 1969 he also took classical ballet lessons at Mascha ter Weeme’s private school in Amsterdam. And he loved to play the flute.

Torn between medicine and dance

Despite strong artistic leanings, Kortlandt started out following in his mother’s footsteps, studying medicine in his native city, Amsterdam, from 1963 to 1965. However, he soon realised that medical school did not suit him, and dropped out. After completing military service, he studied flute, piano and music theory at the Conservatorium, as well as dance at the Scapino Dance Academy in Amsterdam, from 1967 to 1969. After he graduated, Ineke Sluiter recruited him for her recently founded company, Rotterdams Danscentrum, where he remained from 1969 to 1972. Sluiter, fascinated by Pina Bausch’s early work Im Wind der Zeit, invited Bausch to rehearse the piece with her dancers. This was Kortlandt’s first encounter with the future director of Tanztheater Wuppertal.
To complete his dance education, so to speak, Kortlandt took another dance course in Cologne in 1972, during which he was invited to join the world-famous Martha Graham Dance Company – an opportunity he couldn’t refuse. He spent a year dancing with Graham in New York and teaching at the Alvin Ailey School. Then, in 1973, he received an invitation to join Pina Bausch in Wuppertal, thus becoming one of the original members of her new company. Between 1973 and 1991, he contributed to the creation of twenty pieces and became one of the company’s best-known faces. Pina Bausch cast him in the prominent role of Pylades in her dance opera Iphigenie auf Tauris, and he also performed in a wide variety of pieces including The Rite of Spring, the revue piece I’ll Do You In… or AAdagio – Five Songs by Gustav Mahler. He performed in the highly successful The Seven Deadly Sins as well as the dramatic Bluebeard, in the lighthearted Renate wandert aus (Renate Emigrates) as well as the melancholy Arien. Pina Bausch kept experimenting with different genres until, with the Macbeth-Projekt, she found her ultimate work method – asking questions. Kortlandt accompanied her on this journey, collaborating in the creation of pieces like Kontakthof, Keuschheitslegende (Legend of Chastity), Walzer, Nelken (Carnations), Auf dem Gebirge hat man ein Geschrei gehört (On the Mountain a Cry Was Heard), Viktor, Ahnen, right up to Palermo Palermo.

Change of scene, then back to Wuppertal

Ed Kortlandt left Wuppertal in 1991 to become director of the Rotterdamse Dansacademie (now Codarts University of the Arts). However, since he didn’t succeed in implementing his reform ideas there, he left and went freelance in 1993. He worked as a guest teacher in Amsterdam, Lausanne, Wuppertal, Essen, Berlin, Munich, and as far away as Bogotá. In 1994 he returned to Wuppertal, succeeding Hans Pop as assistant to Pina Bausch. This new position was extremely challenging, demanding constant presence and flexibility. He attended rehearsals, assisted with the administration, accompanied Pina Bausch on tour and to social events. After that, he worked as rehearsal and training director for the company, and helped out with various productions. From 2000 to 2012 he was also training director at Tanztheater Münster, under the direction of Daniel Goldin. From 2002 to 2009 he took part in the re-staging of Kontakthof. With Ladies and Gentlemen over 65, and from 2004 to 2006 he held a lectureship in contemporary dance at the Folkwang Hochschule in Essen. Kortlandt continued to work as training director with Tanztheater Wuppertal until 2018, and was involved in rehearsals. In 2019, he passed on his knowledge of the role of Pylades in a restaging of Iphigenie auf Tauris at the Semper Opera in Dresden.

Text by Norbert Servos
Translated by Rachel McNicholl


Gallery


Piece creation


Premieres

Season 1973/74

PieceFritz
Date5 January 1974
VenueOpernhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
Choreografische AssistenzHans Pop
DanceCarlos Orta

Man

Catherine Denisot

Girl with long arms

Charlotte Butler

Grandmother

Dominique Mercy

Man in shirt

Ed Kortlandt

Man-woman

Gabriel Sala

Headless man

Heinz Samm

Fat man

Jan Minařík

Father

John Giffin

Henchman I

João Penalva

Henchman II

Malou Airaudo

Mother

Marlis Alt

Fritz

Monika Sagon

Frau Männerkopf

Monika Wacker

Lady with umbrella

Riitta Laurikainen

Bald woman

Tjitske Broersma

Woman in black furs

Vivienne Newport

Girl

Wolf-Werner Wolf

Face

StagehandHelmut Kühne
LightingHans-Joachim Deinert
Make-upHeinz Dildey
SoundHorst Kersten
Artistic directorPina Bausch
Ballet masterHans-Dieter Klos
RepetitionWerner Precht
Technical directionRolf Bachmann
Stage managerWerner Hartkopf
Source of castEvening leaflet for “Fritz” by Pina Bausch, “Rodeo” by Agnes de Mille and “The green Table” by Kurt Jooss in in Wuppertal, Jan. 5, 1974
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Season 1973/74

PieceIphigenie auf Tauris
Date21 April 1974
VenueOpernhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
DanceBarbara Passow-Diekamp

Priestresses, Scythians

Barry Wilkinson

Guard, Scythians

Colleen Finneran-Meessmann

Oracle, Priestresses

Dominique Mercy

Orest

Ed Kortlandt

Pylades

Hans Pop

Agamemnon, Guard, Scythians

Hiltrud Blanck

Priestresses, Scythians

Jan Minařík

Thoas

Josephine Ann Endicott

Clytemnestra, Priestresses, Scythians

Lajos Horvath

Oracle

Malou Airaudo

Iphigenie

Margaret Huggenberger

Priestresses, Scythians

Marlis Alt

Priestresses

Matthias Schmidt

Guard, Scythians

Monika Wacker

Priestresses, Scythians

Stephanie Macoun

Priestresses

Sue Cooper

Priestresses, Scythians

Vivienne Newport

Priestresses, Scythians

Yolanda Meier

Electra, Priestresses, Scythians

SingerBozena Kinasz

Iphigenie

Elena Bajew

Diana

Hartmut Bauer

Thoas

Heikki Siukola

Orest

Klaus Kettenbach

A manservant

Luigi Lega

Pylades

ChoirJiri Kubica
Werner Wilke
StagehandPaul Aron
LightingHans-Joachim Deinert
Make-upHeinz Dildey
SoundHorst Kersten
SouffleuseGertrud Bürkle
Technical directionRolf Bachmann
Stage managerHerbert Görsch
Source of castEvening leaflet for “Iphigenie auf Tauris” by Pina Bausch in in Wuppertal, season 1973/74
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Season 1974/75

PieceAdagio – Five Songs by Gustav Mahler
Date8 December 1974
VenueOpernhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
Choreografische AssistenzHans Pop
Set design assistantDietrich Klug
DanceBarbara Passow-Diekamp
Barry Wilkinson
Colleen Finneran-Meessmann

5. Song

Dominique Mercy

2. Song, 3. Song, 5. Song

Ed Kortlandt

3. Song, 5. Song

Hans Pop
Heinz Samm
Hiltrud Blanck
Jan Minařík

1. Song, 5. Song

Josephine Ann Endicott

4. Song, 5. Song

Lajos Horvath
Laszlo Fenyves
Malou Airaudo

2. Song, 5. Song

Margaret Huggenberger
Marlis Alt

5. Song

Matthias Schmidt
Michael Diekamp

3. Song, 5. Song

Monika Sagon
Monika Wacker
Pedro José Mascarello Bisch
Stephanie Macoun
Sue Cooper
Vivienne Newport

5. Song

Yolanda Meier

5. Song

SingerHelmut Kolvenbach

Adagio

StagehandHelmut Kühne
LightingHans-Joachim Deinert
Make-upHeinz Dildey
SoundHorst Kersten
Ballet masterHans-Dieter Klos
Training assistantWerner Precht
Technical directionRolf Bachmann
Stage managerWalter Maiser
Source of castEvening leaflet for “Adagio – Five Songs by Gustav Mahler” and “I'll Do You In…” by Pina Bausch with Tanztheater Wuppertal and “Gross-Stadt” by Kurt Jooss with Tanztheater Wuppertal in in Wuppertal, Dec. 8, 1974
Booklet for “Adagio – Five Songs by Gustav Mahler” and “I'll Do You In…” by Pina Bausch with Tanztheater Wuppertal and “Gross-Stadt” by Kurt Jooss with Tanztheater Wuppertal in in Wuppertal, Dec. 8, 1974
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Season 1974/75

Season 1975/76

PieceThe Rite of Spring
Date3 December 1975
VenueOpernhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
DanceBarbara Passow-Diekamp
Barry Wilkinson
Colleen Finneran-Meessmann
Ed Kortlandt
Erwin Fritsche
Esco Edmondson
Fernando Cortizo
Guy Detot
Heinz Samm
Hiltrud Blanck
Jan Minařík
Josephine Ann Endicott
Lajos Horvath
Laszlo Fenyves
Lutz Förster
Margaret Huggenberger
Marie-Luise Thiele
Marlis Alt
Michael Diekamp
Monika Sagon
Monika Wacker
Pedro José Mascarello Bisch
Stephanie Macoun
Sue Cooper
Tjitske Broersma
Vivienne Newport
Yolanda Meier
StagehandPaul Aron
LightingHans-Joachim Deinert
Make-upHeinz Dildey
SoundHorst Kersten
Ballet masterHans-Dieter Klos
BallettkorrepetitionWerner Precht
Technical directionRolf Bachmann
Stage managerHerbert Görsch
Source of castEvening leaflet for “The Rite of Spring”, “Wind From West” and “The Second Spring” by Pina Bausch in in Wuppertal, Dec. 3, 1975
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Season 1975/76

PieceWind From West
Date3 December 1975
VenueOpernhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
DanceBarbara Passow-Diekamp
Barry Wilkinson
Colleen Finneran-Meessmann
Ed Kortlandt
Esco Edmondson
Fernando Cortizo
Heinz Samm
Hiltrud Blanck
Jan Minařík
Josephine Ann Endicott
Lajos Horvath
Laszlo Fenyves
Margaret Huggenberger
Marlis Alt
Michael Diekamp
Monika Sagon
Monika Wacker
Pedro José Mascarello Bisch
Stephanie Macoun
Sue Cooper
Tjitske Broersma
Vivienne Newport
Yolanda Meier
StagehandPaul Aron
LightingHans-Joachim Deinert
Make-upHeinz Dildey
SoundHorst Kersten
BallettkorrepetitionWerner Precht
Technical directionRolf Bachmann
Stage managerHerbert Görsch
Tour managementHans-Dieter Klos
Source of castEvening leaflet for “The Rite of Spring”, “Wind From West” and “The Second Spring” by Pina Bausch in in Wuppertal, Dec. 3, 1975
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Season 1975/76

PieceThe Seven Deadly Sins
Date15 June 1976
VenueOpernhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
Costume assistantOrtrud Himmelreich
MusikassistenzLothar Knepper
DanceBarbara Passow-Diekamp
Barry Wilkinson
Colleen Finneran-Meessmann
Ed Kortlandt
Elisabeth Clarke
Esco Edmondson
Fernando Cortizo
Hans Pop
Heinz Samm
Hiltrud Blanck
Jan Minařík
Josephine Ann Endicott

Anna II

Lajos Horvath
Laszlo Fenyves
Margaret Huggenberger
Marlis Alt
Michael Diekamp
Monika Sagon
Monika Wacker
Pedro José Mascarello Bisch
Stephanie Macoun
Sue Cooper
Tjitske Broersma
Vivienne Newport
Yolanda Meier
ActorMechthild Großmann
SingerAnn Höling

Anna I

Erich Leukert
Karin Rasenack
Oskar Pürgstaller

The Family

Siegfried Schmidt

The Family

Willi Nett

The Family

Zsolt Ketszery

The Family

StagehandHelmut Kühne
LightingHans-Joachim Deinert
Make-upHeinz Dildey
SoundHorst Kersten
SouffleuseElse Hildesheim
BallettkorrepetitionWerner Precht
Technical directionRolf Bachmann
Workshop managementLeo Haase
Stage managerHerbert Görsch
Tour managementHans-Dieter Klos
PropsGünther Fränzel
Source of castEvening leaflet for “The Seven Deadly Sins” by Pina Bausch with Sinfonieorchester Wuppertal in in Wuppertal, June 15, 1976
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Season 1976/77

PieceBluebeard. While Listening to a Tape Recording of Béla Bartók's Opera "Duke Bluebeard's Castle"
Date8 January 1977
VenueOpernhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
Costume assistantOrtrud Himmelreich
DanceAnne Marie Benati
Arnaldo Alvarez
Barbara Passow-Diekamp
Colleen Finneran-Meessmann
Ed Kortlandt
Elisabeth Clarke
Esco Edmondson
Fernando Cortizo
Guy Detot
Hans Pop
Heinz Samm
Hiltrud Blanck
Jan Minařík

Bluebeard

John Giffin
Luis P. Layag
Mari Di Lena
Marion Cito
Marlis Alt

Judith

Michael Diekamp
Monika Sagon
Monika Wacker
Tjitske Broersma
Vivienne Newport
Yolanda Meier
StagehandJosef Lindler
LightingHans-Joachim Deinert
Make-upHeinz Dildey
SoundHorst Kersten
Ballet masterEgbert Strolka
BallettkorrepetitionWerner Precht
Technical directionRolf Bachmann
Workshop managementLeo Haase
Stage managerHerbert Görsch
PropsGünther Fränzel
Source of castBooklet for “Bluebeard. While Listening to a Tape Recording of Béla Bartók's Opera "Duke Bluebeard's Castle"” by Pina Bausch in in Wuppertal, Jan. 8, 1977
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Season 1976/77

PieceCome Dance With Me
Date26 May 1977
VenueOpernhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
Costume assistantOrtrud Himmelreich
DanceAnne Marie Benati
Arnaldo Alvarez
Barbara Passow-Diekamp
Colleen Finneran-Meessmann
Ed Kortlandt
Elisabeth Clarke
Esco Edmondson
Fernando Cortizo
Gisbert Rüschkamp
Guy Detot
Hans Pop
Heinz Samm
Hiltrud Blanck
Jan Minařík
John Giffin
Josephine Ann Endicott
Luis P. Layag
Mari Di Lena
Marion Cito
Monika Sagon
Monika Wacker
Tjitske Broersma
Vivienne Newport
Yolanda Meier
StagehandPaul Aron
LightingHans-Joachim Deinert
Make-upHeinz Dildey
SoundHorst Kersten
Ballet masterEgbert Strolka
BallettkorrepetitionWerner Precht
Technical directionRolf Bachmann
Workshop managementLeo Haase
Stage managerHerbert Görsch
PropsGünther Fränzel
Source of castEvening leaflet for “Come Dance With Me” by Pina Bausch in in Wuppertal, May 26, 1977
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Season 1977/78

PieceRenate wandert aus (Renate Emigrates)
Date30 December 1977
VenueOpernhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
Costume assistantOrtrud Himmelreich
DanceAnne Marie Benati
Arnaldo Alvarez
Barbara Passow-Diekamp
Dana Sapiro
Dominique Mercy
Ed Kortlandt
Erich Leukert
Fernando Cortizo
Heinz Samm
Hiltrud Blanck
Héléna Pikon
Jacques Patarozzi
Jan Minařík
John Giffin
Josephine Ann Endicott
Luis P. Layag
Malou Airaudo
Mari Di Lena
Marion Cito
Marlis Alt
Monika Sagon
Monika Wacker
Tjitske Broersma
Vivienne Newport
Yolanda Meier
StagehandPaul Aron
LightingHans-Joachim Deinert
Make-upHeinz Dildey
SoundHorst Kersten
Ballet masterEgbert Strolka
Jean Cébron
BallettkorrepetitionWerner Precht
Technical directionRolf Bachmann
Workshop managementLeo Haase
Stage managerHerbert Görsch
PropsGünther Fränzel
Source of castEvening leaflet for “Renate wandert aus (Renate Emigrates)” by Pina Bausch in in Wuppertal, Dec. 30, 1977
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Season 1978/79

PieceKontakthof
Date9 December 1978
VenueOpernhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
DanceAnne Martin
Arnaldo Alvarez
Arthur Rosenfeld
Beatrice Libonati
Christian Trouillas
Ed Kortlandt
Elisabeth Clarke
Fernando Cortizo
Gary Austin Crocker
Heinz Samm
Jan Minařík
John Giffin
Josephine Ann Endicott
Luis P. Layag
Lutz Förster
Mari Di Lena
Meryl Tankard
Monika Sagon
Silvia Kesselheim
Vivienne Newport
StagehandPaul Aron
LightingHans-Joachim Deinert
Make-upHeinz Dildey
SoundHorst Kersten
Klaus Grimm
Ballet masterEgbert Strolka
Jean Cébron
BallettkorrepetitionWerner Precht
Technical directionRolf Bachmann
Leitung KostümRenate Eichberg
Workshop managementLeo Haase
Stage managerHerbert Görsch
PropsGünther Fränzel
Source of castEvening leaflet for “Kontakthof” by Pina Bausch in in Wuppertal, Dec. 9, 1978
Evening leaflet for “Kontakthof” by Pina Bausch in in Wuppertal, Dec. 9, 1978
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Season 1978/79

PieceArien
Date12 May 1979
VenueOpernhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
DanceAnne Marie Benati
Anne Martin
Arnaldo Alvarez
Arthur Rosenfeld
Beatrice Libonati
Christian Trouillas
Ed Kortlandt
Elisabeth Clarke
Fernando Cortizo
Gary Austin Crocker
Heinz Samm
Jan Minařík
John Giffin
Josephine Ann Endicott
Lutz Förster
Mari Di Lena
Marion Cito
Meryl Tankard
Monika Sagon
Monika Wacker
Silvia Kesselheim
Vivienne Newport
StagehandJosef Lindler
LightingHans-Joachim Deinert
Make-upHeinz Dildey
SoundHorst Kersten
Klaus Grimm
Ballet masterEgbert Strolka
Jean Cébron
BallettkorrepetitionWerner Precht
Technical directionRolf Bachmann
Leitung KostümRenate Eichberg
Workshop managementLeo Haase
Stage managerHerbert Görsch
PropsGünther Fränzel
Source of castEvening leaflet for “Arien” by Pina Bausch in in Wuppertal, May 12, 1979
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Season 1979/80

PieceKeuschheitslegende (Legend of Chastity)
Date13 December 1979
VenueOpernhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
DanceAnne Marie Benati
Anne Martin
Arthur Rosenfeld
Beatrice Libonati
Christian Trouillas
Dominique Mercy
Ed Kortlandt
Heide Tegeder
Héléna Pikon
Jan Minařík
Janusz Subicz
Jean Laurent Sasportes
Josephine Ann Endicott
Lutz Förster
Malou Airaudo
Meryl Tankard
Nazareth Panadero
Urs Kaufmann
Vivienne Newport
ActorHans Dieter Knebel
Mechthild Großmann
MusicianMatthias Burkert

piano

ExtraFrank Herfeld

crocodile

Frank Nettesheim

crocodile

Jürgen Koch

crocodile

Klaus Kostka

crocodile

Roman Rohde

crocodile

Ulrich Huppach

crocodile

Werner Simon

crocodile

Wolfgang Weiß

crocodile

StagehandPaul Aron
LightingHans-Joachim Deinert
Make-upHeinz Dildey
SoundHorst Kersten
Klaus Grimm
Ballet masterDominique Mercy
Jean Cébron
Technical directionRolf Bachmann
Leitung KostümRenate Eichberg
Workshop managementLeo Haase
AssistantHans Dieter Knebel
Stage managerHerbert Görsch
PropsGünther Fränzel
Source of castEvening leaflet for “Keuschheitslegende (Legend of Chastity)” by Pina Bausch in in Wuppertal, Dec. 13, 1979
Discover photos, videos and more in the archivesBrowse the archives
Season 1979/80

Piece1980 – A Piece by Pina Bausch
Date18 May 1980
VenueSchauspielhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
Set design assistantGerda Raichle
DanceAnne Marie Benati
Anne Martin
Arthur Rosenfeld
Beatrice Libonati
Ed Kortlandt
Hans Dieter Knebel
Heide Tegeder
Isabel Ribas Serra
Jan Minařík
Janusz Subicz
Jean Laurent Sasportes
Josephine Ann Endicott
Lutz Förster
Malou Airaudo
Mechthild Großmann
Meryl Tankard
Nazareth Panadero
Vivienne Newport
MusicianArthur Sockel

violinist

Matthias Burkert

harmonium player

Special performerHans Günter Witt

wizard

StagehandHeinz Czyganowski
LightingSiegfried Schuchmann
Make-upHeinz Dildey
SoundHelmut Schoth
Ballet masterDominique Mercy
Jean Cébron
Technical directionRolf Bachmann
Leitung KostümRenate Eichberg
Workshop managementLeo Haase
Stage managerPeter Lütke
PropsGerd Klann
Sportler:inMax Walther

gymnast

Source of castEvening leaflet for “1980 – A Piece by Pina Bausch” by Pina Bausch with Tanztheater Wuppertal in in Wuppertal, May 18, 1980
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Season 1981/82

PieceWalzer
Date17 June 1982
VenueKoninklijk Theater Carré Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Netherlands
Costume assistantBernd Bremer
Rosemarie Hess
DanceAnne Marie Benati
Arthur Rosenfeld
Beatrice Libonati
Bénédicte Billiet
Christian Trouillas
Ed Kortlandt
Francis Viet
Hans Pop
Héléna Pikon
Jakob Haahr Andersen
Jan Minařík
Janusz Subicz
Jean Laurent Sasportes
Josephine Ann Endicott
Malou Airaudo
Meryl Tankard
Monika Sagon
Nazareth Panadero
Urs Kaufmann
Vitus Zeplichal
ActorMechthild Großmann
MusicianMatthias Burkert

piano

StagehandHeinz Czyganowski
LightingHans-Joachim Deinert
SoundHartmut Millard
Helmut Schoth
Ballet masterDominique Mercy
Jean Cébron
Stage managerPeter Lütke
Source of castEvening leaflet for “Walzer” by Pina Bausch in in Amsterdam, 06/17/1982 – 06/20/1982
Discover photos, videos and more in the archivesBrowse the archives
Season 1982/83

Season 1983/84

Season 1985/86

Season 1986/87

Season 1989/90


From the Pina Bausch archives
Ed Kortlandt

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