Open Call | A workshop about Sasha Waltz's work "In C"

From August 12th to 28th, 2024, Goethe-Institut China will cooperate with a dancer of Sasha Waltz & Guests to organize an intensive program designed for professionals and advanced dancers: “In C in China - Workshop”. Over a total of 14 days at the Goethe-Institut China in Beijing 798, participants will delve into Sasha Waltz's choreography “In C”, exploring its movements, qualities, functions, and strategies for interpretation. Guiding the workshop is Tian Gao, a core member of the dance company Sasha Waltz & Guests and certified tutor for “In C”, who will teach the original form of the choreography while allowing space for individual exploration within the practice.

The workshop promises an immersive experience in contemporary dance that challenges both the body and mind. It encompasses an intense training regimen, a creative process emphasizing independent play and discovery, collaborative work with ample sharing and discussion, and a professional staging experience leading to a performative presentation.

The culmination of the workshop is a final presentation on the last day, during which participants will showcase their interpretation of 'In C' to a small audience, including Sasha Waltz, who will be virtually observing the performance from Europe and exchanging words with the dancers. This presentation will be followed by dialogues among the practitioners and observers.

In C Sasha Waltz & Guests,Tian Gao © Sebastian Bolesch

“In C” is a work with strong educational value. In this work, each dancer has the role of a decision-maker, and every choice directly influences the outcome of the performance. Over the past three years, Sasha Waltz and her dancers have conducted “In C” workshops in numerous dance schools and performance institutions worldwide, teaching the piece to students, professional dancers, and dance enthusiasts of various ages. Bringing “In C” to China has always been a wish. Chinese dancers possess solid training and precise body control, and the “In C” workshop can complement their training by providing insights into consciousness and decision-making in dance practice.

It guides the participants in exploring how to integrate rules and freedom in dance, and how to harmonize personal decisions with an awareness of the entire group. Workshop leader Tian Gao looks forward to assisting Chinese dancers in gaining new methods and perspectives in contemporary dance practice through this workshop. Additionally, she anticipates that the exchange with Chinese dancers will contribute to new discoveries for “In C”.

How to participate

Professional dancers and individuals with a background in dance training and excellent physical condition are invited to apply for participation in the workshop. Due to limited capacity at the venue, a maximum of 12 participants will be selected for the workshop through an evaluation of all applications.

Schedule

Week 1: 12th to 16th August (Break: 17th & 18th August)

Week 2: 19th to 24th August (Break: 25th August)

Week 3: 26th to 28th August

Afternoon of 28th August: Final Presentation with the public

A detailed daily schedule will be sent to the selected participants. Kindly reserve 9:00-18:00 (including warm-up and lunch break times) for all the workshop dates.

*As In C is a group practice, all participants must attend with full availability and a commitment to all the specified dates and hours.

Information on the application process

You can find practical information about the workshop and the application process on today's fourth wechat post  (link to the workshop and application guideline page). Please ensure that you have carefully read the guidelines before submitting your application.

To participate in the workshop, you need to register and submit application materials till August 31, 2024 at 6pm (Beijing Time)

Please send your application to the Goethe-Institut China ( [email protected] ) with a copy to Tian Gao ( [email protected] ). The organizer will send the invitation to the selected applicants till the beginning of July, or the application is not successful. The closing presentation on August 28, 2024, will be open to the public, and additional details and registration channels will be announced separately.

FURTHER INFORMATION

About In C

Image from a performance of »In C« by Sasha Waltz & Guests ©Yanina Isla

“ In C ” is a dance work created by Sasha Waltz and her ensemble in 2021. It is based on the eponymous music piece composed by Terry Riley in 1964, widely acknowledged as the first minimalist music composition. Sasha Waltz created an experimental system consisting of 53 dance figures, inspired by the open structure and 53 musical figures of the original composition. Within this system, dancers engage in structural improvisation using explicit rules and patterns. Similar to the music, each performance of this work features a different number of dancers, making each presentation unique and unrepeatable.

“In C” is a game. According to the rules, each dancer unfolds the 53 dance figures in order. Each figure can be repeated, and dancers independently decide the amount of repetition for each figure. The temporal distance between dancers is limited to four dance figures; otherwise, the leading dancer must persist in repetition until the lagging dancer decides to move forward. In addition to the fundamental rules, various “tools” facilitate manipulation.

Temporal tools include the core element of “repetition”, along with “pause” and “getting stuck”. Spatial tools encompass “change of direction”, “adjustment of density”, “proximity and extremity”, “formation of geometries”, and more. In this work, each dancer has the role of a decision-maker, and every choice directly influences the outcome of the performance. Sasha Waltz says that just as in a world experiencing profound changes, everyone should believe that each decision and action can bring about a difference.

About Tian Gao