TUM Center for Culture and Arts

With Heaven’s Carousel, composer and conceptual artist Tim Otto Roth has developed an expansive kinetic instrument that has thrilled audiences in Rome, Baltimore and Karlsruhe, among other places. 36 spherical, illuminated loudspeakers rotate like celestial bodies in three wide orbits above the audience. Due to that rotation, the pitches change continuously. The Doppler effect makes a tone sound higher when it flies towards the visitor and lower when the sound source moves away again. The clue of this sound accelerator is that the effect is cancelled out in the centre, but the more the visitor moves outwards, the more it comes to bear, creating an oscillating microtonal sound carpet. The complementary illumination of the loudspeakers in spectral colours, which indicates the location of the sounds being played, lends the electronic sounds a physical presence and ultimately transforms the loudspeaker ensemble into an intoxicating electro-acoustic music theatre.

The musical compositions will vary during the performance: Roth has developed a programme for the Kunstareal Festival from 27 to 29 June 2025 under the motto ‘The scales are free’, which addresses the moment of freedom in music. For Sonic Revolutions, Roth expands his microtonal combination repertoire with specially developed overtone compositions: sounds— among others from instrumental music—are broken down into their partials and recomposed by playing the individual overtones across the 36 loudspeakers. The highlight of the presentation will be an arrangement of Ludwig van Beethoven's ‘Great Fugue’ op. 133 for the Heaven's Carousel from 11 to 13 July 2025 under the title ‘Ludwig & Joseph - Beethoven meets Fourier’.

180 years after the experimental acoustic validation of the Doppler effect with trumpeters on a steam locomotive, the interplay of space, time and the composition of sound continues to occupy the arts and research. Alongside the presentation of ‘Sonic Revolutions’, Prof. Bernhard Seeber and Dr Tim Otto Roth invite you to the transdisciplinary symposium “Tu(r)ning Space – analysis, synthesis and perception of spatial sound in music, art and hearing science” on 4 and 5 July, at which international experts from the field of acoustics will explore the phenomenon of moving sound with cultural scientists and artists. The symposium will be held in English and will also be broadcast on Zoom. The significance of space and movement for sound art will be explored in a public debate (in German) on 4 July at 8pm.

• Performance: RoboTICKS (28.06 at 5:00–5:20 pm, Immatrikulationshalle, TUM)
  A human faces their robotic double, entering the uncanny valley—a space where human and machine engage in a strange game. Fascinated and disturbed by the encounter, the human looks behind the mirror to confront their shadow, their other self, their dark twin. Soon, it becomes unclear who is the experiment. This performance delves into the themes of identity and self-awareness, raising questions about humanity’s relationship with technology and the blurred lines between reality and artificiality.
  Admission is free, but registration is requested due to limited space.
• Performance: “Ich war das nicht!” (It wasn’t me!) – Dance performance for children (+8) (29.06 at 3:00–3:45 pm, FLUX)

  “It wasn't me!” is a playful yet thoughtful dance piece by Sabine Karb, Lisa Lugo, and Barbara Galli-Jescheck. It explores what happens when we deny, shift blame, or refuse to admit the truth. Can we still trust each other? The performance blends movement with an acoustic layer—a sound collage developed with Munich elementary school children. Drawing on their own experiences, the dancers reveal that truth often hurts less than we fear.

  Admission is free. Registration is recommended, walk-ins welcome!
• Performance: Ubuntu (29.06 at 4:30–5:00 pm, Rotunda of Pinakothek der Moderne)
  UBUNTU is a powerful dance performance inspired by the African philosophy of humanity and compassion. In just six days, TUM students from diverse fields come together for an intense artistic journey. At the Rotunda of the Pinakothek der Moderne, they showcase how courage, creativity, and diversity can create true connection. “TUM tanzt!” builds bridges between art and science—and reminds us of what makes us truly human.
  Programme leader: Ellen Steinmüller (Dancer & Founder of ExisTanz), Tina Schwender (TUM School of Medicine and Health, Applied Sports Science)
  In Cooperation with ExisTanz​​​​​​​

• Workshop: Getting Creative  (28.06 at 11:00 am –12:30 pm , Room 0120, TUM)
  Awakening the senses. Activating the body. Stimuli that invite playful exploration. Simple choreographic structures. Compositions created in the moment—alone, in pairs, or in groups. Based on everyday movements, making the workshop accessible with or without prior dance experience. Come and play!
  Instructor: Susanne Stortz (lecturer at TUM School of Medicine and Health)
  Admission is free, but registration is requested due to limited space. Please bring comfortable clothing! 
• Workshop: Jazz Dance (28.06 at 3:00–4:15 pm, Room 0120, TUM)

  Jazz dance is a powerful and expressive style characterized by strong movements, dynamic turns, and jumps. Its unique character comes from the blend of fluid transitions and explosive accents. In this workshop, you’ll learn the basic techniques and gain exciting insight into this versatile dance form through a mix of flexibility, body control, jazz-specific techniques, and choreography. Dancers of all levels—beginners and experienced—are welcome!

  Instructor: Ulrike Klemm (lecturer at TUM School of Medicine & Health)
  Admission is free, but registration is requested due to limited space.
• Workshop: Hip Hop (29.06 at 10:30 am–12:00 pm, lawn in front of the Alte Pinakothek)
  Want to challenge yourself with a dance style that knows no limits? Then this is for you. Hip hop is about more than just steps and technique—it’s about expression, energy, and shared experience. In this workshop, you’ll learn a choreography and develop a feel for groove, rhythm, and style—while discovering the joy of dancing together.
  Instructor: Theresa Völkl (Member of the TUM Fusion Dance Crew)
  Admission is free, but registration is requested due to limited space.
• Workshop: “Ich war das nicht!” (It wasn’t me!) – Dance workshop for children (+8) (29.06 at 3:45–4:30 pm, FLUX)
  After the dance performance "It wasn't me!", there will be a dance workshop for kids. In this workshop, participants collaborate with the dancers to create their own choreography, inspired by movements and scenes from the piece. The children are encouraged to bring their own ideas and creatively expand on them. At the end, they can present their choreography on stage. No prior experience is required—the focus is on enjoying movement and creativity!
  Instructors: Lisa Lugo (TUM School of Medicine & Health, Applied Sports Science), Barbara Galli-Jescheck and Sabine Karb
  Admission is free. Registration is recommended, walk-ins welcome!
• Introductory Workshop: Tango Argentino (04.07 at 5:30–6:45 pm, FLUX) 
  Discover the world of Tango Argentino: In the taster workshop with Cristian Taffarello and Isabella Schmitt you will get a first impression of tango - a fascinating part of Argentinian culture. You don't need a dance partner or any previous knowledge. Try out the basics, feel the music and experience what makes tango so special. Perhaps you will discover a new passion?
  Instructor: Isabella Schmitt (ZHS) and Cristian Taffarello (ZHS)
  Admission is free, but registration is required due to limited space.  

• Tango-Abend: Bella Milonga (04.07 at 19:00–22:00 Uhr, FLUX)
  Welcome to the Bella Milonga! For the third time, the Central University Sports Centre invites all dance enthusiasts and lovers of tango to the Bella Milonga - this time in the open air as part of TUM tanzt. Look forward to an atmospheric evening with wonderful music by DJ Cristian Taffarello, familiar faces and new encounters. Whether members of TUM, ZHS Munich or tango fans from outside - everyone is welcome! The event is free of charge.

• Discussion: ARTificial Encounters  (28.06 at 5:30–6:45 pm, Immatrikulationshalle, TUM)
  After the performance, a panel discussion will explore the themes of the show with the performers and TUM scientists. The conversation will delve into issues of identity, human-machine relationships, and the ethical questions raised by the increasing fusion of technology and humanity. Moderated by Dr. Franziska Poszler from the TUM School of Social Sciences & Technology, Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence, this discussion will provide deeper insights into the performance’s topics.
  Admission is free, but registration is requested due to limited space.