Inspired by Terry Riley’s masterful composition In C (1964), considered the first piece of minimalist music, “In C” is composed of an experimental system of fifty-three movement phrases, based on structured improvisation with clear rules and guidelines. Within this set of rules, each dancer has individual creative freedom, without compromising the group—much like our democratic society, where individual freedom ends where another’s begins. The duration of the piece, as well as the number of dancers, is variable. Leadership and follower roles are also not fixed. Each performer can switch roles at any moment. The result is an extraordinary negotiation between improvised freedom and defined structure.

Sasha Waltz originally created “In C” for her dance company, Sasha Waltz & Guests: “During the lockdown, when we couldn’t even breathe in the same space as others, it was a way to bring the dancers together. Since the work consists of separate fragments of choreography, the dancers could rehearse individually and remotely.” However, Waltz soon realized that “In C” could not only bring her dancers together, but also had the potential to unite people from all over the world. “When the music starts, we hear a clear beat, like a heartbeat that connects performers and audience. And that’s one of the main messages of this performance: ‘In C’ connects us all.”