Lunar Cycle
March 14–April 13, 2025
Essen 45128
Germany
Hours: Tuesday–Wednesday and Saturday–Sunday 10am–6pm
Thursday–Friday 10am–8pm
From March 14 to April 13, 2025, the large exhibition hall of Museum Folkwang will become the stage for the latest and most ambitious production to date realised by internationally renowned American choreographer Richard Siegal over the period of a lunar phase cycle. Lunar Cycle is an interdisciplinary long-term performance that combines the elements of dance, light and vapour sculptures, sound and live music with scientific data. Terrestrial and cosmic cycles as well as climate change and its effects are artistically reflected upon and made tangible, both performatively and spatially.
The dance performance invites us to consider the imperceptible constant and cyclical processes that affect us, from the melting of the Arctic ice to the gravitational pull of the moon. Lighting moods, vapour sculptures, sound and live music create an atmospheric environment that evokes associations with weather phenomena and climatic changes. The choreography is based on data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center’s Sea Ice Index and a long-term study on US citizens’ attitudes to climate change. The data will be translated into choreographic scores using computer-generated algorithms and interpreted live by international dancers from the Ballet of Difference company, the Folkwang Tanzstudio as well as M.A. students from the Dance Composition programme at the Folkwang University of the Arts.
The soundscapes of Lunar Cycle unfold in daily live concerts performed by Ensemble Musikfabrik and a four-channel sound installation by electronics pioneer Kurt ‘Pyrolator’ Dahlke. Siegal is also developing parts of the choreography with volunteers who will support the performance. An open call was used to find 100 participants for the performances at Museum Folkwang, who learnt the basic choreography with Richard Siegal in preparatory workshops.
The involvement of the audience is another aspect of Lunar Cycle in that visitors can let the performance take effect on them or actively participate. The performance takes place from Thursdays to Sundays during regular museum opening hours and the admission ticket allows multiple visits.
Lunar Cycle is Siegal’s most ambitious production created for a museum to date and was inspired by Merce Cunningham’s legendary choreography Ocean, based on a concept by John Cage.
The project is supported by the Kunststiftung NRW, the E.ON Foundation, the Kulturstiftung Essen, the Alfred and Cläre Pott Foundation and the Friends of the Ballet of Difference.
A production by Richard Siegal in collaboration with the Ballet of Difference, Museum Folkwang, Folkwang Tanzstudio, Folkwang University of the Arts, Ensemble Musikfabrik and Kurt ‘Pyrolator’ Dahlke.
Press contact: Anna Rutten, T +49 (0)201 8845 160 / presse [at] museum-folkwang.essen.de
