Cabaret Voltaire

Are you familiar with Dadaism? If so, you’ll be pleased to know that it all began right here, at the Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich. If you’ve never heard of it, let me tell you the story of what happened here on the night of the 8th of February 1916. During the First World War, Zurich became a safe haven for artists from all across Europe. Earlier that year, German writer and poet Hugo Ball, along with his wife Emmy Hennings—a dancer and poet—opened the Cabaret Voltaire. They sent out an invitation through the press, asking young artists and writers to join them and create a new kind of artistic venue. Their goal was to blend the atmosphere from Parisian cabarets and those of prewar Berlin. They named it after the French philosopher Voltaire, whom they admired for challenging religious dogma. The opening night was a hit—the place was packed. Romanian painter Marcel Janco hung his artworks on the walls, Hugo Ball played piano while Emmy Hennings sang in French, and Tristan Tzara recited poetry in Romanian. Just a few days later, they came up with the name “Dada”, a word randomly chosen from the pages of a Larousse dictionary using a letter opener. The word, easily pronounceable in any language, was a nod to their desire for inclusivity and simplicity. These young artists wanted to reject the logic of a world that was tearing itself apart. They longed for new values and expressed a freer, lighter, more joyful vision. Dadaism was their answer—a movement built on humor, playfulness, lightness, and rebellion. Their mission was to criticise the absurdity of war as well as to show the world that hope still existed, and that men and women were dreaming of something better. If you’d like to follow the steps of the Dadaists, do step inside the Cabaret Voltaire. Today, it’s a multicultural center featuring a bar, a coworking space, a library full of books on Dadaism, as well as temporary exhibitions and talks. However, you’ll need a ticket to enter.