Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) is opening the documentary A Breath with Pina Bausch, an Istanbul Theatre Festival production, to online access. A documentation of the legendary dancer and choreographer Pina Bausch’s Istanbul-inspired performance Nefés, A Breath with Pina Bausch is available to stream on İKSV’s YouTube channel as of Tuesday, 30 June 2020, the 11th anniversary of Bausch’s passing.

Directed by Hüseyin Karabey, the documentary shines light on the behind-the-scenes of the performance Nefés, inspired by Pina Bausch’s visit to Istanbul in 2002 as İKSV’s guest. A special project of the Istanbul Theatre Festival, and a co-production of Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) and Tanztheater Wuppertal - Pina Bausch, Nefés held its Turkey premiere at Istanbul’s Ataturk Cultural Centre (AKM) in 2003 with five performances to an audience of over 6,000 people. The director Hüseyin Karabey had the chance to follow Bausch and her team through rehearsals with a very exclusive permission granted to no one before, documenting Bausch as she creates, improvises and directs her team. Screened at the 24th Istanbul Film Festival in 2005, A Breath with Pina Bausch provides a unique backstage look at a work in progress and gives insight into the creative genius of Bausch.