In C

In C is the result of a daring and innovative project initiated during the corona lockdowns by the renowned German choreographer Sasha Waltz (whose successful Roméo et Juliette was previously presented in our theatre). To Terry Riley’s revolutionary composition of In C – also described as the ‘Big Bang’ of minimalist music – she created a collection of choreographic phrases with which the dancers of her company Sasha Waltz & Guests could experiment freely at home. Since its premiere in Berlin, the project has unleashed a worldwide movement – “like a positive virus” – with performances of In C in Ukraine, Georgia, India, Mexico, New York and various West-European countries, by continually changing groups of dancers. 

Each performance is different

Composer Terry Riley called his In C ‘the most democratic piece of music ever composed’. Published in 1964, the work comprises 53 short motifs in C major and the complete work fits on a single sheet of A4. Riley did not specify any instruments or duration for the composition, so it can be played by almost anyone, which has led to a wide variety of performances. This inspired Waltz to create an equally playful and variable choreographic system, based on 53 movement figures with plenty of scope for improvisation – following certain rules. Each individual performer is given creative freedom, but has to relate to the group. This is a pointed reference to our current society, because, as Waltz wonders: how can we retain our personal freedom without damaging others and our society?

Awards and honours

Sasha Waltz has received several awards for In C. In 2022, she was nominated for a Bessie Award in the category ‘Outstanding Choreographer/Creator’ at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. In 2024, she was awarded the Deutscher Tanzpreis – the most prestigious dance award in Germany – in recognition of her international impact, her commitment to the independent dance scene, and her artistically unique, cross-disciplinary body of work. Later this year, she will also receive the Helmut Schmidt Zukunftspreis, which she was awarded jointly with Olafur Eliasson for their cultural innovation and dedication to democracy, nature, and a free society.