…how in salts desert is it possible to blossom…

Dance

3.9.-5.9.2025

PACT Zollverein

Colourful, energetic performance about the impact of colonisation.

Imagine a flower field in a desert. That is one treasure of Okiep, a former mining region that embodies the history of colonised South Africa. The inimitable, rebellious South African choreographer Robyn Orlin explores the mechanisms of violence and oppression in the area. Together with five dancers of Garage Dance Ensemble and two musicians of the Band uKhoiKhoi, Orlin mixes fiction and reality, allowing the message to emerge: Everbody has the right to blossom.

Produced by City Theater & Dance Group and Damien Valette Prod. Co-production: City Theater & Dance Group, Festival Montpellier Danse 2024, Festival de Marseille, Chaillot, Théâtre national de la danse, Paris, Théâtre Garonne, Scène européenne, Toulouse.

A stage performance with five seated performers in colorful robes and two musicians at electronic instruments in the background, with glowing blue lines projected behind them. — ...how in salts desert is it possible to blossom..., uKhoiKhoi, Garage Dance Ensemble © Katja Illner, Ruhrtriennale 2025

Performers stand closely together on a pile of clothes, wearing colorful costumes, with a vibrant projection in the background. — ...how in salts desert is it possible to blossom..., uKhoiKhoi, Garage Dance Ensemble © Katja Illner, Ruhrtriennale 2025

Several performers in colorful robes stand closely embraced on stage, with a large projection of faces in the background. — ...how in salts desert is it possible to blossom..., uKhoiKhoi, Garage Dance Ensemble © Katja Illner, Ruhrtriennale 2025

Two performers sit closely wrapped in colorful fabrics on stage, one with a bright orange cloth covering their head. — ...how in salts desert is it possible to blossom..., uKhoiKhoi, Garage Dance Ensemble © Katja Illner, Ruhrtriennale 2025

A stage performance with five performers in colorful robes, with large German words and phrases projected on a screen behind them. — ...how in salts desert is it possible to blossom..., uKhoiKhoi, Garage Dance Ensemble © Katja Illner, Ruhrtriennale 2025

Several performers surround a person in a yellow skirt standing at the center of the stage on a pile of clothes, with colorful projections in the background. — ...how in salts desert is it possible to blossom..., uKhoiKhoi, Garage Dance Ensemble © Katja Illner, Ruhrtriennale 2025

Cast

Choreography
- Robyn Orlin
Dance
- Garage Dance Ensemble
Dancers Garage Dance Ensemble
- Faroll Coetzee,
- Esmé Marthinus,
- Georgia Julies,
- Byron Klassen,
- Crystal Finck
Original score written and performed by
- uKhoiKhoi (Yogin Sullaphen and Anelisa Stuurman)
Costumes
- Birgit Neppl
Technical Direction
- Thabo Pule
Video
- Éric Perroys
Lighting Manager
- Jean Marc L'Hostis
Lighting Design
- Vito Walter
Text Translation
- Maurice Salem,
- ACI
Administration, Booking
- Damien Valette
Tour Production and Logistics
- Bertille Zimmermann
Mentor Garage Band Ensemble
- Alfred Hinkel
Creative Director Garage Band Ensemble
- John Linden
Resident Choreographer Garage Band Ensemble
- Byron Klassen
Production Garage Band Ensemble
- Nicolette Moses
Production Manager Ruhrtriennale
- Sarah Heinrich
Technical Project Manager Ruhrtriennale
- Helmut Schandl
Technician
- Henning Arend,
- Melanie Bluhm,
- Julius Kindermann,
- Ralf Mittag,
- Daria Motabelsade,
- Olaf Schmeink
Dressing and Costume Team Ruhrtriennale
- Heike Schick

Further supporters

…how in salts desert is it possible to blossom… is supported of Direction régionale des affaires culturelles d'Ile de France and Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels.

Relaxed With ... uKhoiKhoi (7 September)

Artists at Work

The film series Artists at Work showcases the versatility of Ruhrtriennale artists. Every Tuesday in the Turbinenhalle we present a cinematic work featuring a festival artist. Anita van Dolen, dance curator at the Ruhrtriennale, will open the evening with a conversation with Robyn Orlin on Tuesday, 2 September.