Waldorf Project's Chapter Five/KAIHOGYO Immersive Experience Opens in Secret London Warehouse
Beginning on 19 November, an immersive art event titled Chapter Five/KAIHOGYO will take place in a concealed warehouse in north London. Each evening, 40 participants aged 18 and older are required to relinquish their phones, jewelry, watches, and all clothing, including shoes and socks, to don a uniform. Attendees must tie back long hair and refrain from using perfume. For a duration of three and a half hours, dancers will lead them through a silent labyrinth. This experience is not recommended for individuals with claustrophobia, a fear of darkness, or asthma. This marks the Waldorf Project's first new production in seven years; it was established by Sean Rogg in 2012 and is inspired by the kaihōgyō pilgrimage, aiming to enhance consciousness through movement.
Key facts
- Chapter Five/KAIHOGYO runs from 19 November in a secret north London warehouse.
- 40 participants per night, over-18s only, must surrender phones, jewellery, watches, clothes, shoes, and socks, and change into a uniform.
- The experience lasts three and a half hours, guided by dancers through a purpose-built labyrinth; no talking is allowed.
- It is the first new production in seven years from the Waldorf Project, founded by artist Sean Rogg in 2012.
- The concept is based on kaihōgyō, the thousand-day walking pilgrimage by Tendai Buddhist monks on Mount Hiei, Japan.
- Sean Rogg spent seven years researching transcendental states without drugs.
- Choreographers Chihiro Kawasaki and Yen-Ching Lin have each performed with the Waldorf Project for over a decade.
- The score is by Tom Middleton of Global Communication; environment design by Ana Lumack.
- A 35,000-square-foot former warehouse has been converted to feel like a mountain.
- Most tickets have already sold out on word of mouth.
Entities
Artists
- Sean Rogg
- Chihiro Kawasaki
- Yen-Ching Lin
- Tom Middleton
- Ana Lumack
Institutions
- Waldorf Project
- Punchdrunk
- Akram Khan Company
- Hofesh Shechter
- Global Communication
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Japan
- Mount Hiei
- Copenhagen
- Denmark