The English translation of the German preface to Cabaret Voltaire by Hugo Ball.
s I founded Cabaret Voltaire, I thought that in Swiss I might find some young people, just like me, who not only wanted to enjoy their independence but also wanted to document it. I went to mister Ephraim, the owner of the "Meierei and said: "Please, mister Ephraim, give me your dance hall. I want to make a cabaret. Mister Ephraim agreed and gave me the dance hall. And I went to some aquaintances and begged them: "Please give me a statue, a drawing, an engraving. I want to combine the cabaret with a small exposition." Went to the friendly Zürich press and begged them: "bring your notebooks. Their will be a international cabaret. We will make beautiful things." And they gave me statues and brought notebooks. So at february 5th we had a cabaret. Miss Hennings and Miss Leconte sang French and Danish chansons, mister tristan Tzara recited Rumanian poems. A Balalaika Orchestra played delightfull Russian folksongs and dances.
Much support and sympathy I received from mister M. Slodki, who designed the poster of the cabaret, from mister Hans Arp, who besides his own work also put some Picasso's at my disposal and mediated at paintings by his friends O. van Rees and Artur Segall. Much support from mister tristan Tzara, mister Marcel Janco and mister Max Oppenheimer, who were willingly declared to appear in the cabaret. We organized a RUSSIAN and soon after that a FRENCH soirée (from works of Apollinaire, Max Jacob, André Salmon, A. Jarry, Laforgue und Rimbaud). On february 26th Richard Huelsenbeck came from Berlin and on march 30th we staged a wonderfull Negermusik (toujours avec la grosse caisse: boum boum boum boum -- drabatja mo gere drabatja mo bonoooooooooooo -- ). Monsieur Laban supported the show and was inspired. And through the initiative of mister tristan Tzara the gentlemen Tzara, Huelsenbeck and Janco performed (for the first time in Zürich and in the whole world) simultaneous poems of the gentlemen Henri Barzun and Fernand Divoire, as well as a Poème simultan of their composition, which is printed on the sixth and seventh page. The tiny copy we publish at present, we owe to our initiative and the help of our friends in France, ITALIEN and Russia. It will characterise the activities and interests of the cabaret, whose whole intention is aimed at remembering, surpassing the War and the native countries, the few independent people who live other ideals. The next goal of the artists which are here united is the publication of a Revue Internationale. La revue paraître à Zürich et portera le nom "DADA". ("Dada") Dada Dada Dada Dada.
ZÜRICH, 15. Mai 1916
H U G O
B A L L