Cabaret Voltaire is marking its 100th anniversary this February. Being Dada’s birthplace, it will celebrate the occasion to excess from February to July, the mystical historical time-span in which Dada was born. The first evening of Dadaism took place on 5 February 1916 in the Meierei hall at Spiegelgasse 1 in the centre of Zurich, later to become Cabaret Voltaire. Among the founders present that evening were Tristan Tzara, Marcel Janco, Hans Arp, Sophie Taeuber-Arp and Hugo Ball. 5 February 1916 is celebrated as the official birthday of Dada even though the term was not coined until 18 April. Cabaret Voltaire operated until June 1916, the day Hugo Ball appeared in a cubist costume as a magical bishop. 14 July 1916 witnessed the first Dada soirée in the Zur Waag guildhall, where Ball presented his Opening Manifesto. This period up to Hugo Ball’s and Emmy Henning’s departure for Ticino around 18 July 1916 is generally regarded as Dada’s legendary founding days. Cabaret Voltaire will mark its centenary with 165 days of celebrations – one
day for each of the Dadaists portrayed in the permanent Dada in Nuce exhibition. This anniversary year sees Cabaret Voltaire focusing once again on new projects involving contemporary artists who are influenced by and continue to shape Dadaism. A mind-boggling programme of daily soirées will turn Cabaret Voltaire into an artistic space with its spotlight firmly on the happening.

 Copyright 2015 Mart Engelen