The world premiere of choreographer and artist Ligia Lewis’ new work “Wayward Chant” will take place at Gropius Bau as part of the Berliner Festspiele’s 2025 Performing Arts Season. Lewis stands out as a central figure who redefines performance art within the context of visual arts through her expansive interdisciplinary practice.
A female-presenting person in shorts and blazer stands on the steps of the Gropius Bau atrium.
“Wayward Chant” explores the intersections between despair and beauty through the activation of the chorus.
Choreography and Sound: The work unfolds with a stripped-down musical score in which moving, hymn-singing bodies are arranged in precise formations. This choreography is likened to a hummed hymn performed with delay, thereby creating a physical and auditory play between dissonance and reverberation.
Musical References: Early Western liturgical sounds are interwoven with melodic and harmonic details reminiscent of the blues, serving as an inviting response to the lingering echoes of the past.
A female-presenting person in a silver dress lies on the steps of the atrium of Gropius Bau and performs.
This new work is presented concurrently with Ligia Lewis’ ongoing exhibition at Gropius Bau titled “Ligia Lewis: I’M NOT HERE FORRRRR…”. In 2025, Lewis is the Artist in Focus of the Berliner Festspiele.
Artist: Ligia Lewis (Concept, Choreography, Artistic Direction, Text)
Work Title: Wayward Chant (World Premiere)
Dates: 28 November 2025 and 29 November 2025
Time: 20:00
Venue: Gropius Bau, Atrium
