Dance project Lunar Cycle by Richard Siegal at Museum Folkwang starts on 14 March with 24-hour opening

From 14 March to 13 April 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. These are 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. Alongside the open spatial structure, the professional dancers offer interested parties an introduction to the basic features of the choreography and opportunities for participation in an onboarding zone. 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.

The production is a collaboration between Richard Siegal, the Museum Folkwang, the Folkwang University of the Arts, the Ballet of Difference, the Folkwang Tanzstudio, the Ensemble Musikfabrik and Kurt ‘Pyrolator’ Dahlke.

Information
Richard Siegal
Lunar Cycle
14 March to 13 April 2025
Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission prices
Admission: €8 (regular) / €5 (reduced)
The purchase of a ticket allows multiple visits to Lunar Cycle.