In describing the work of German choreographer Pina Bausch, you might hear many terms – like performance art, wild or unresolved. But Dr. Telory Arendell, associate professor in the department of theatre and dance at Missouri State University, just calls it inspiring.

She is here to open our eyes to understand these art forms that don’t fit into traditional boxes of theatre or dance. Bausch’s work was in that space between, in what she called dance theatre.

Arendell is working on a book about Bausch, who had a unique upbringing. Her parents owned a hotel in Germany during the war, and Bausch spent a lot of time underneath the tables in the dining area watching people as they met for dinner or drinks.

One thing that Arendell keeps going back to in all of her research is that subtext is the most powerful part of performance. The staging, the nonverbal – these speak louder than many words.

Read her story on Mind’s Eye

Because Arendell finds herself at the intersection of dance, theatre, disability studies and the arts, she encourages all who attend performances to not only evaluate what you see on exhibit, she says you have to read between the lines.

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