Cycles are the temporal sections that structure the day long duration of A Sun Dance. The performance begins with a ‘Rise’ and ends with a ‘Set’ marking the entry and exit into the building as the performance both commences and concludes outside the building. Across the day there are also three cycles beginning in the Morning, Midday and Afternoon. While the performance is continuous, the cycles mark three clear ways in for audiences who otherwise experience the work by chance while wandering the museum, or may dip in and out as they choose. Windows or skylights receiving direct sunlight generally locate the beginning of each cycle. The dancers work mostly together at the beginning of each cycle and then disperse across the museum. Each cycle fades into the next like a beam of light. Beginning times and durations for the cycles are flexible depending on the location and arrangement of the building and windows, opening times of the museum, and the seasonal sun path. Sequencing of materials in the cycles is also flexible, and is responsive to the language of the architecture and scale of the museum. In previous iterations, cycles began at 10am (Morning), 12 noon (Midday), and 3pm (Afternoon). For an example of full timings see the Run Sheet from the NGA premiere in Resources. For more information about flexibility of the work see 5 - Installation.

Open with sun-related practice near window / aperture with direct sunlight For example, Stretching the Sun at oblique angles in morning / afternoon, Sunning in the overhead light of high noon. The practices embellish the path of the sun’s rays, and the angle of incidence with the earth’s surface, at specific times of day. Move into choreography / open practice that resonates with surrounding architecture For example, Seated Solo and Seated Constellation respond to geometric shapes and patterns of the architecture in the morning cycle; Cornering practice extends the angles of pillars or junctions in landings, stairwells or interstitial spaces for the midday cycle; a Weave or Canon practice counters the positive and negative shapes of a colonnade, ramp, repeated floating walls or loggia for the afternoon cycle. Taper into a procession out of the space For example, Trimming along a stair rail or balcony to exit a gallery in the morning cycle; Tessellating snake throughout the gallery for the midday cycle; linear walking in the afternoon cycle. Disperse into a game For example, the Circuit Game of the morning cycle; the Hide and Seek / Sardines Game of the midday cycle; or the puzzle-like logic of Completing the Shape practice in the afternoon cycle.

Diagrams of cycle sequences Below are illustrated examples of how materials may be sequenced within the cycles. Written Summary of cycle sequences Below is a chronological list of choreographic material as it was sequenced within cycles for the premier of A Sun Dance at the National Gallery of Australia. RISE Trimming interior / exterior balcony Linear walking up stairs Enter MORNING CYCLE Stretching the Sun Seated Solo Seated Constellation - duo/trio/quintet Trimming (Shuffling transition) Circuit Game – Orbital / Angular phrases MIDDAY CYCLE Sunning / Unning / Shadow Play (with humming/singing) Cornering Tessellating Snake Hide & Seek / Sardine Game – independent Orbiting (occasional individual Prisming) Group Prisming Frog in the Hole transition AFTERNOON CYCLE Stretching the Sun Weave Linear Walking transition Double Shadow Canon Completing the Shape Frog in the Hole transition Extending the Line Tessellating - lying / sitting on floor (with humming/singing) SET Exit one by one through rotating door Walk away from exit in a line