Tidtabellen och scenerna
Torsdag 9.11.2006
19.00-20.20
Jyrki Karttunen: Human Imitations, Stoa
19.00-20.30
Kirsi Monni: Lichtweg – Friedenplatz, Zodiak, Kabelfabriken
19.00-21.00
Dance Theatre Hurjaruuth (chor. Arja Pettersson & Liisa Risu): Winter
Circus Time, Pannuhalli, Kabelfabriken
19.30-20.45
Helsinki Dance Company (chor. Andonis Foniadakis): Apospasmata, Studio Elsa,
Helsingfors Stadsteater
21.00-21.30
Sanna Kekäläinen: Afternoon of the Faun, K&C Tila, Kabelfabriken
22.00-22.40
Liisa Pentti: Travel, C4, Zodiak, Kabelfabriken
Fredag 10.11.2006
15.00-16.00
Paula Tuovinen: REvenge, Ateneum-salen
17.00-18.15
Double Bill Night: Jyrki Karttunen: Dramatic Miniatures and Alpo Aaltokoski:
One Day and One Night, Stoa
18.00-20.00
Dance Theatre Hurjaruuth (chor. Arja Pettersson & Liisa Risu): Winter
Circus Time, Pannuhalli, Kabelfabriken
19.00-20.30
Kirsi Monni: Lichtweg – Friedenplatz, Zodiak, Kabelfabriken
19.00-20.45
Triple Bill Night: Susanna Leinonen: Trickle Green Oak; Jouka Valkama: Rim;
Jorma Uotinen: Colours; Operan, stora scenen – Post-performance
event afterwards (cocktails and artist talk)
19.30-20.45
Helsinki Dance Company (chor. Andonis Foniadakis): Apospasmata, Studio Elsa,
Helsingfors Stadsteater – Cocktail Party afterwards
21.00-21.40
Liisa Pentti: Travel, C4, Zodiak, Kabelfabriken
22.00-22.30
Sanna Kekäläinen: Afternoon of the Faun, K&C Tila, Kabelfabriken
Lördag 11.11.2006
15.00-17.00
Tero Saarinen Company: Westward Ho!, Wavelenghts, Hunt, Aleksanterin Teatteri
17.00-17.30
Sanna Kekäläinen: Afternoon of the Faun, K&C Tila, Kabelfabriken
18.00-18.40
Liisa Pentti: Travel, C4, Zodiak, Kabelfabriken
18.00-20.00
Dance Theatre Hurjaruuth (chor. Arja Pettersson & Liisa Risu): Winter
Circus Time, Pannuhalli, Kabelfabriken
19.00-19.55
Arja Raatikainen: Numen, Stoa
19.00-20.30
Kirsi Monni: Lichtweg – Friedenplatz, Zodiak, Kabelfabriken
21.00-23.00
Tero Saarinen Company: Westward Ho!, Wavelenghts, Hunt, Aleksanterin Teatteri
Söndag
12.11.2006
15.00-17.00
Tero Saarinen Company: Westward Ho!, Wavelenghts, Hunt, Aleksanterin Teatteri
15.00-17.00
Dance Theatre Hurjaruuth (chor. Arja Pettersson & Liisa Risu): Winter
Circus Time, Pannuhalli, Kabelfabriken
Programmet
Jyrki Karttunen: Human Imitations, Stoa the Cultural Centre of Eastern Helsinki
Thursday 9.11.2006
Curtain up: 19.00
Duration: approx. 1 h 25 min (no intermission)
Choreographer Jyrki Karttunen’s Human Imitations
is a theatrical journey into the miraculous world of the stage. The
piece reveals Karttunen’s sincere love for the stage and for its
peculiar rules of so called reality. The piece is also about five male
performers, who dance because in the end, despite the numerous
“languages” used, they find it impossible to express themselves
verbally. Human Imitations
deals with the constant role playing of human beings, both on and off
the stage. By combining nostalgic, sentimental and sometimes noisy
tunes to all kinds of imitations, Karttunen has created a disarmingly
charming performance, full of stage magic of the most authentic kind!
Performance language: nonsense
Jyrki Karttunen (b. 1969) started his career as a dancer
in the Helsinki Dance Company in 1989. Before creating his first
choreography in 1995, he had become known as one of the leading male
dancers in Finland. His choreographic breakthrough happened with the
duet digital duende in 1998. Since then he has become one of the most
sought after Finnish choreographers, and has created both commissioned
works and works for his own company. His best know creation so far is
probably the solo work Fairy
(2002), which has literally toured around the globe. Karttunen is one
of the four dance artistst promoted and produced by Nomadi Productions.
More info: http://www.nomadi.fi
Choreography: Jyrki Karttunen
Performers: Jukka Huitila, Jyrki Karttunen, Akseli Kaukoranta, Carl Knif, Antti Seppänen
Set and lighting designer: Jukka Huitila
Sound designers: Jukka Huitila, Jyrki Karttunen
Costume designer: Karoliina Koiso-Kanttila
Costume realisation: Karoliina Koiso-Kanttila, Tiina Pollari
Photographer and graphic designer: Ninna Lindström
Premiere: 30.11.2005 The Youth and Culture Centre Nuku, Oulu
Up
Kirsi Monni: Lichtweg – Friedenplatz, Zodiak – Centre for New Dance, Cable Factory
Thursday 9.11.2006, Friday 10.11.2006, Saturday 11.11.2006
Curtain up: 19:00
Duration 25 min + 40 min
Kirsi Monni’s new creation Lichtweg – Friedenplatz
challenges choreographic conventions and explores the manifold
relationships between language, bodily being and movement. The piece
consists of a solo, danced by Monni herself, and a trio.
The solo Lichtweg is a
choreographic study around a question of what is called I? It is a bare
movement-portrait that is danced out in an open dialogue with a written
videoscript. The trio Freidenplatz
asks what is called thinking? What is the essence of democracy? The
piece is an open movement-discussion, a forum for unpredictable
thinking together with a meditative piano piece by Giacinto Scelsi
Suite nro 9. Premiere on November 3, 2006.
Performance language: Finnish, English
Choreographer and dancer Kirsi Monni (b. 1962) has had a
wide-spread influence on Finnish contemporary dance since the 1980s. In
her artistic work, which consist of 30 choreographies, she explores the
ontological questions of being and their bodily manifestations in
performance. Monni received a Doctore of Art in Dance at the Theatre
Academy of Finland in 2004. Her doctoral thesis was comprised of five
choreographies and the written work The
Poetic Movement of Being: philosophical interpretations of the new
paradigm of dance in the light of Martin Heidegger’s thinking and the
artistic work in years 1996 – 1999.
More info: http://www.danceinfo.fi/tanka
Choreography: Kirsi Monni
Dancers: Kirsi Monni (solo), Joona Halonen, Vera Nevanlinna, Katri Soini (trio)
Music: Giacinto Scelsi
Audiovisual design: Mikko Hynninen
Set design: Simon Le Roux
Costume design: Suvi Hänninen
Premiere: 3.11.2006 Zodiak – Center for New Dance
Up
Dance Theatre Hurjaruuth (chor. Arja Pettersson & Liisa Risu):
Winter Circus Time
Pannuhalli, Cable Factory
Thursday 9.11.2006, Curtain up: 19:00
Friday 10.11.2006, Saturday 11.11.2006 Curtain up: 18:00,
Sunday 12.11.2006 Curtain up: 15:00
Duration: approx. 2 hours (with intermission)
Winter Circus Time is already the 13th edition in a series of productions all bearing the name Winter Circus, complemented with a different epithet each year (Snow, Star, Sirius
etc.). These yearly block buster productions which combine contemporary
circus, dance and live music, have become the signature work of Dance
Theatre Hurjaruuth.
This year the familiar acrobatic elves are deeply involved in the
mystery of time. The show features eight international virtuosos of
contemporary circus and the Bordurka Quartet, skilled in imaginary folk
music. Premiere on November 9, 2006.
Dance Theatre Hurjaruuth was founded in 1981. Originally
it was a touring dance company, but since 1994 it has had a permanent
space at the Cable Factory cultural center in Helsinki. Since then the
company has principally been making performances for young audiences.
The artistic director of the company is choreographer Arja Pettersson.
More info: http://www.hurjaruuth.fi
Direction: Arja Pettersson, Liisa Risu
Music: Hannu Oskala
Band: Bordurka Quartet
Set and costume design: Kirsi Manninen
Lighting design: Riku Virtanen
Premiere: 9.11.2006, Pannu Hall, Cable Factory, Helsinki
Up
Helsinki Dance Company (chor. Andonis Foniadakis): Apospasmata
Studio Elsa, Helsinki City Theatre
Thursday 9.11.2006, Friday 10.11.2006
Curtain up: 19:30
Duration: 60 min
Apospasmata by Andonis
Foniadakis is a commisioned work for Helsinki Dance Company. The Greek
born Foniadakis is known for physically demanding contemporary dance. Aposmasmata
features nine dancers and original music by composer Julien Tarride, a
long time collaborative partner of Foniadakis. Premiere on October 10,
2006.
Helsinki Dance Company, founded in 1973, is with its ten
dancers the biggest contemporary dance company in Finland. The company
operates in conjunction with a large drama theatre, the Helsinki City
Theatre. This unique status of being independent within the
organisation of the theatre allows it to produce pure dance creations
of its own as well as supply some musicals and drama productions with
capable dancers. The current director of the HDC is Ville Sormunen.
Choreographer Andonis Foniadakis has worked as a dancer in Béjart
Ballet Lausanne (1992 – 1996) and in Ballet de L’Opéra National de Lyon
(1996 – 2002). He created his first choreography in 1994 for Béjart
Ballet. He also has his own company, Apotosoma, based in Lyon.
More info: http://www.dancecompany.fi
Choreography: Andonis Foniadakis
Dancers: Kirsi Karlenius, Mikko Lampinen, Jenni-Elina Lehto, Kai
Lähdesmäki, Heidi Naakka, Unto Nuora, Valtteri Raekallio, Inka
Tiitinen, Kaisa Torkkel
Set and costume design: Andonis Foniadakis
Music: Julien Tarride
Lighting design: Juha Westman
Sound design: Jyrki Sandell
Premiere: 10.10.2006, Studio Elsa, Helsinki City Theatre
Up
Sanna Kekäläinen: Afternoon of the Faun
K&C Tila, Cable Factory
Thursday 9.11.2006, Curtain up: 21.00
Friday 10.11.2006, Curtain up: 22:00
Saturday 11.11.2006, Curtain up: 17:00
Duration: 30 min
Sanna Kekäläinen created her first version of Nijinsky’s classic in
1996. Ten years later she returned to the piece, creating a new version
for herself. Kekäläinen’s contemporary and conceptual interpretation
combines highly physical movement, Debussy’s music and an original text
by Finnish writer Kari Hukkila. The text, on its own behalf, mixes the
myths of the faun and of Narcissus.
Performance language: English
Choreographer and dancer Sanna Kekäläinen (b. 1962) has
been in the front line of Finnish contemporary dance since the 1980s,
creating over 50 choreographies. Throughout her career she has created
experimental and even controversial works, having thus a strong
influence on the development of the Finnish scene. She founded her own
company K&C Kekäläinen & Company in 1996. One strand in her
vast artistic production consists of remakes and new interpretations of
well known classics. These include such works as Requiem (1996) Spartacus (1998), Death in Venice (1999) and Uhri – Sacre (2001), to name but a few.
More info: http://www.kekalainencompany.net
Choreography, concept and dance: Sanna Kekäläinen
Music: Claude Debussy
Text: Kari Hukkila
Lighting design: Jarkko Lievonen
Visual design: Taina Relander
Premiere: 22.4.2006, K&C Tila, Cable Factory, Helsinki
Up
Liisa Pentti: Travel, C4, Zodiak – Centre for New Dance, Cable Factory
Thursday 9.11.2006, Curtain up: 22.00
Friday 10.11.2006 Curtain up: 21:00
Saturday 11.11.2006 Curtain up: 18:00
Duration: approx. 40 min
Travel is an intimate dance work in unconventional surroundings, giving
space for movement to exist in its own right. The piece consists of two
parts: a solo for the choreographer Liisa Pentti herself, and a duet
for dancers Riina Huhtanen and Mickaël Stoeckel. Travel
demonstrates Pentti’s interest to explore the connections between
bodily and narrative expression, which often involves the use of text
or onomatopoetic language.
Performance language: English, French
Liisa Pentti (b. 1958) is one of the central
choreographers of Finnish contemporary dance. She graduated from SNDO,
Amsterdam, in 1986. She has worked in the Finnish dance scene as a
dancer, choreographer and teacher since 1987. In 2000 she formed her
own dance company Liisa Pentti + Co. Pentti has taught contact
improvisation since 1981 and she has also studied release and Alexander
techniques and t'ai chi.
More info: http://www.liisapentti.com
Choreography and direction: Liisa Pentti
Dance: Riina Huhtanen, Liisa Pentti, Mickaël Stoeckel
Space: Mia Kivinen
Sound mixing: Patrick Kosk
Costume design: Suvi Hänninen
Premiere: 18.5.2006, Bodyword-festival, St.Petersburg
Up
Double-Bill: Paula Tuovinen: REvenge & Teemu Määttänen: On the next time (video)
Ateneum Hall
Friday 10.11.2006
Curtain up: 15.00
Duration: 20 min + 30 min
Revenge
REvenge is a
partly documentary solowork about - revenge. In order to study this
theme, Tuovinen combines speech, movement and improvisation to mobbing
letters and middle aged women. Despite the bitterness of the theme, REvenge
will also be flavoured with irony and humour, the two trademarks of
Tuovinen's otherwise versatile choreographic style. Premiere on
November 2, 2006.
Performance language: English
Paula Tuovinen (b. 1961) has worked in the Finnish dance
field since the early 1980s as a dancer, choreographer and pedagogue.
She has an MA in cultural anthropology, which has influenced her work
as an artist. In the course of her career she has, in addition to
making stage work, also directed dance films and made choreography to a
Bollywood film. In 2005 she was elected as the rector of the Theatre
Academy of Finland. She is the first representative of dance art to
hold this position.
More info: http://www.danceinfo.fi/tanka
Concept, choreography and dance: Paula Tuovinen
Lighting design and video: Teemu Määttänen
Sound design: Mikael Eriksson
Premiere: 2.11.2006, Ateneum Hall, Helsinki
On the next time
In his video work On the next time
Teemu Määttänen studies dancer's repetition and the kinetic memory. By
repetition and variation this movie becomes a multilayered picture of
the bodily presence and it's time.
Video: Teemu Määttänen
Dance: Jaakko Simola
Premiere: 2.11.2006, Ateneum Hall, Helsinki
Up
Double Bill Night: Jyrki Karttunen: Dramatic Miniatures and Alpo Aaltokoski: One Day and One Night
Stoa the Cultural Centre of Eastern Helsinki
Friday 10.11.2006
Curtain up: 17:00
Duration: 30 min 12 min
One Day and One Night
In this abstract and harmoniously beautiful work
choreographer Alpo Aaltokoski creates pass-through places for fleeting
emotions and momentaneous tensions. Aaltokoski’s organic, ever-flowing
movement, together with the pure white visual elements designed by
Kaisa Salmi, creates a constantly altering world of visions. The four
dancers glide through shadows and reflections like ebb and flow,
accompanied by composer Uljas Pulkkis’ contemporary, yet romantic
musical score, commissioned for this piece.
Alpo Aaltokoski (b. 1958) has been one of the central
figures in Finnish contemporary dance ever since 1991, when he started
his career as a choreographer. Aaltokoski has created over 20
choreographies, such as Guardian of the Night (1992 and 2001), Promises (2000), Deep (2000) and Lucid Dreaming
(2005), to name but a few. Aaltokoski has also had varied and multiple
roles in the field of dance. For example, Aaltokoski was the artistic
director of Full Moon Dance Festival between 1995 and 1998. The Arts
Council of Finland appointed Aaltokoski Artist Professor as of 1
September 2003, for a five year period. Aaltokoski is one of the four
dance artistst promoted and produced by Nomadi Productions.
More info: http://www.nomadi.fi
Choreography: Alpo Aaltokoski
Music: Uljas Pulkkis
Lighting and set design: Kaisa Salmi
Assistant: Hanna Käyhkö
Costume design: Marja Uusitalo
Costume realisation: Anne Aario, Marja Uusitalo
Dancers: Jonna Eiskonen, Akseli Kaukoranta, Mikko Paloniemi, Tuovi Rantanen
Musicians (on tape): Laura Gustafsson (viola), Juhani Kaasinen (cello),
Antti Kaihola (piano), Riikka Kokkonen (violin), Lauri Sallinen
(clarinet)
Premiere: 31.3.2006, Stoa the Cultural Centre of Eastern Helsinki
Dramatic Miniatures
A thrillingly sensual duet by Jyrki Karttunen, constructed
of five short separate parts. The work balances between abstract
situations and concrete interpretations, offering the spectator a
mixture of sentimental melancholy and quiet humour, typical for
Karttunen’s works. Jukka Huitila’s minimalistic lighting design leaves
plenty of room for Karttunen’s recognisable movement style: the bare
stage witnesses a short story, told by the means of fluent and
effortless contemporary dance.
Jyrki Karttunen (b. 1969) started his career as a dancer
in the Helsinki Dance Company in 1989. Before creating his first
choreography in 1995, he had become known as one of the leading male
dancers in Finland. His choreographic breakthrough happened with the
duet digital duende in 1998. Since then he has become one of the most
sought after Finnish choreographers, and has created both commissioned
works and works for his own company. His best know creation so far is
probably the solo work Fairy (2002), which has literally toured around
the globe. Karttunen is one of the four dance artistst promoted and
produced by Nomadi Productions.
More info: http://www.nomadi.fi
Choreography: Jyrki Karttunen
Dancers: Jyrki Karttunen, Tuovi Rantanen
Lighting design: Jukka Huitila
Sound designers: Jyrki Karttunen, Jukka Huitila
Costume designer: Karoliina Koiso-Kanttila
Costume realisation: Karoliina Koiso-Kanttila, Tiina Pollari
Premiere: 18.6.2005, Kuopio Dance Festival
Up
Triple Bill Night: Jorma Uotinen: Colours; Jouka Valkama: Rim; Susanna Leinonen: Trickle Green Oak
Finnish National Opera, Main Stage
Friday 10.11.2006
Curtain up: 19:00
Colours
With this new creation Jorma Uotinen returns to the
Finnish National Ballet after a break of five years. Uotinen’s works
are always full of spectacular visions, intensive emotions a
nd expressive music. These can also be expected of Colours, a piece for 21 dancers and with music by the accordion wizard Kimmo Pohjonen. Premiere on 27 October, 2006.
Jorma Uotinen (b. 1950) is a living legend of Finnish
contemporary dance. He achieved international recognition as a dancer
and choreographer already in the 1970s, and many of his works have
assumed cult status and made a huge impact on Finnish contemporary
dance trends. Uotinen has been the director of the Helsinki Dance
Company (1982 - 1991) as well as the Finnish National Ballet (1992 -
2001). He is currently working as the artistic director of Kuopio Dance
Festival. During his time in Kuopio (2001- ) he has continued making
new choreographies, most of which have been commissioned by foreign
companies.
More info: http://www.jormauotinen.com
Choreography: Jorma Uotinen
Music: Kimmo Pohjonen
Lighting design: Mikki Kunttu
Costume design: Erika Turunen
Premiere: 27.10.2006
Rim
Rim is Jouka Valkama’s first work to be presented at the main stage of
the Finnish National Opera. It is his second commissioned work for the
Finnish National Ballet. In his preavious works Valkama has combined
contemporary dance to punk rock and other heavier forms of popular
music. Rim, for nine dancers,
features original music by Tommi Lindell, a real Jack-of-all-trades of
Finnish popular music. Premiere on 27 October, 2006.
Jouka Valkama (b. 1976) has worked as a dancer in the
Finnish National Ballet ever since he graduated from the Finnish
National Opera Ballet School in 1995. He made his first choreography
for the FNB’s choreography workshop in 1997 and has since then
presented eight workshop choreographies, in addition to works made for
the students of the FNO’s Ballet School.
Choreography: Jouka Valkama
Music (recording): Tommi Lindell
Visualisation: Jouka Valkama
Set design: Tytti Wiinikka, Jouka Valkama
Costume design: Erika Turunen
Lighting design: Mikki Kunttu
Premiere: 27.10.2006
Trickle Green Oak
Trickle Green Oak, a commissioned work for the Finnish National Ballet,
is a piece for four female dancers. Leinonen’s vision represents a
strangely austere and hypnotic view of a mystical and surrealistic
world. The movement language, in which the classical attitudes and port
de bras meet the world of butoh, stems from the conflict between the
strength of the body and its vulnerability. Original music by Mia
Hämäläinen.
Susanna Leinonen (b. 1972) started her career as a choreographer in 2000. Already her first piece No One, Just Your Friend
attracted a lot of attention, both in Finland and abroad. Since then
she has established herself as one of Finland’s most interesting
choreographic talents. In addition to the Finnish National Ballet, her
works have been in the repertory of Nürnberg Ballet, the Royal Swedish
Ballet and Danish Dance Theatre. Leinonen’s latest creation Kaira (2006) was a commissioned work for the Kuopio Dance Festival.
More info: http://www.danceinfo.fi/tanka
Choreography: Susanna Leinonen
Music: Mia Hämäläinen
Costume design: Erika Turunen
Set design: Olli-Pekka Koivunen, Erika Turunen, Susanna Leinonen
Lighting design: Olli-Pekka Koivunen
Duration: 18 min
Premiere: 31.10.2003
Up
Tero Saarinen Company: Westward Ho!, Wavelenghts, Hunt
Alexander's Theatre
Saturday 11.11.2006 Curtain up: 15:00 & 21:00
Sunday 12.11.2006 Curtain up: 15:00
Duration: 25 min + 18 min + 35 min
Tero Saarinen Company’s triple-bill gives a good overview on Saarinen’s
smaller scale works. Saarinen’s trade marks - expressive movement
language, the long-term team-work with his closest collaborators and
aspiration for total art work, Gesamtkunstwerk - are strongly present
in this evening.
The male trio Westward Ho!
(1996) was Tero Saarinen’s international breakthrough work as a
choreographer. Since then, audiences in numerous countries have become
familiar with the piece's odd melancholy and quiet humour.
Saarinen created the sensual duet Wavelengths
for the Finnish National Ballet in 2000. Danced now by TSC’s Sini
Länsivuori and Henrikki Heikkilä, it seems to crystallize Saarinen’s
entire view of dance art, his movement language and his understanding
of human beings. Composer Riku Niemi’s original music uses the
minimalistic yet ecstatic and dramatic arch of Ravel's of Bolero as one source of inspiration.
Unlike most versions of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, Saarinen concentrates on one single person – on his masculinity/femininity and on the fading of beauty in his solo work HUNT.
The leading Finnish multimedia artist Marita Liulia adds a virtual
level to the performance. Historically aware choreography, the
innovative use of multimedia in aspiration for total art work as well
as Saarinen’s strong presence as dancer are all elements that have made
HUNT a classic among the re-interpretations of Stravinsky's music.
Tero Saarinen (b. 1964) began his career as a dancer at
the Finnish National Ballet in 1985, where he soon attracted attention
as a soloist. Despite his success, he left the ballet in 1992 to search
for new influences from contemporary dance from Western Europe and
Japan. Saarinen founded his own group, Tero Saarinen Company (known as
Company Toothpick until 2002) in 1996 as a canvas for his own
choreographic work. Tero Saarinen Company is based in Helsinki,
Finland although most of its performances take place abroad.
Saarinen has also made choreographies for numerous other major
companies, such as Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT 1), the Batsheva Dance
Company, Ballet Gullbenkian, the Lyon Opéra Ballet, the Gothenburg
Opera Ballet, Ballet National de Marseille and the Finnish National
Ballet.
More info: http://www.terosaarinen.com
Westward Ho!
Choreography: Tero Saarinen
Dancers:
Music: Gavin Bryars, Moondog
Lighting design: Mikki Kunttu
Costume design: Tero Saarinen
Premiere: 18.2.1996, Dansens Hus, Stockholm, Sweden
Wavelenghts
Choreography: Tero Saarinen
Dancers: Sini Länsivuori, Henrikki Heikkilä
Music: Riku Niemi
Lighting design: Mikki Kunttu
Costume design: Erika Turunen
Premiere: 28.1.2000 (FNB), 17.6.2004 (TSC), Kuopio Dance Festival
HUNT
Choreography and dance: Tero Saarinen
Music: Igor Stravinsky
Lighting design: Mikki Kunttu
Multimedia: Marita Liulia
Costume design: Erika Turunen
Premiere: 2.6.2002, Venice Biennial
Up
Arja Raatikainen: Numen, Stoa the Cultural Centre of Eastern Helsinki
Saturday 11.11.2006
Curtain up: 19.00
Duration: 45 min
Three strong, mysterious and vaguely dangeong, mysterious and vaguely
dangerous women on stage. Breathtaking visions of light and scenery.
Articulate, soft, strong and meditative contemporary dance. Tunes by
Brahms, Bach and Chopin, disturbed by a contemporary soundscape.
These are the elements of choreographer Arja Raatikainen’s latest work Numen.
This abstract piece is, in the words of Raatikainen herself, “a search
for the intertwining ties between woman, animal and deity. The elements
blend into a multifaceted movement, an image of humanity.”
Arja Raatikainen (b. 1958) is one of the most important
Finnish contemporary choreographers. Her works have been highly
inspirational, effecting both fellow choreographers and dancers, as
well as lighting and sound designers. Raatikainen is also an important
teacher who worked as the professor of dance at the Theatre Academy of
Finland between 1995 and 1998. After this period she was Artistic
Professor of Dance until 2003. During these years Raatikainen created
works such as Comments (1998), Omen
(1999), Opal-D (2000) and Labile Mobile (2002), all highly acclaimed both in Finland and abroad.
Raatikainen is one of the four dance artistst promoted and produced by
Nomadi Productions.
More info: http://www.nomadi.fi
Choreography: Arja Raatikainen
Dancers: Jonna Eiskonen, Jenni-Elina Lehto, Terhi Vaimalan, Jenni-Elina Lehto, Terhi Vaimala
Lighting and set design: Jukka Huitila
Sound design: Antti Nykyri
Costume design: Marja Uusitalo
Costume realisation: Anne Aario, Marja Uusitalo
Music: J. S. Bach, J. Brahms, F. Chopin
Electronic sound compositions: Antt Moon Dance Festival, Pyhäjärvi
Up