Photography: Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Liisa Takala, Veli Lehtovaara, Joma Richter
Nature Untitled | Movements I - III
How do ecological poetics perform between dance, site and image?
Nature Untitled is a new work by choreographer Veli Lehtovaara, visual artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila and sound designer Jani Hietanen with an international group of artists. The work is presented in the form of a triptych – each of the three movements discharges on stage in a particular mode.
The first movement, inside an empty oil silo, dances out the ghosts of exhaustion and energies consumed. The bodies fold and crackle, the steel structure purrs, the phantasms of the oil era burn only to vanish.
In the second movement, we traverse on a field road and in interstellar space. The stage is both enveloping and infinitely extending vacuum, space and ship at the same time, governed by the sound of artificial intuition. Dance wobbles and weaves, recalls and regrets the earth and its beings.
The third movement juxtaposes a primeval forest with a shopping mall. The human-made technological environment plunges into the restful depths of the old growth forests. Dancing bodies graph the divergence of forms and minds emerging within this border zone.
Nature Untitled is produced by Entirely Moved | Kaikki Liikkuu ry and co-produced by Zodiak - Center for New Dance, Moving in November festival and Institut finlandais / The Finnish Institute in France.
This co-production also stands as the beginning of a long term collaboration between Moving in November, Institut finlandais and La Briqueterie – Centre de développement chorégraphique national du Val-de-Marne in Paris. Zodiak (Helsinki) and BIT Teatergarasjen (Bergen) are partners building a link between Finland and Norway through The Nordic Residency Exchange Program.
The work is part of Lehtovaara's artistic research (PhD) at the Theater Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki.
Performance documentation:
Choreography: Veli Lehtovaara in collaboration with the performers
Performers: Elias Girod, Anni Koskinen, Sofia Simola, Matilda Aaltonen, Erik Eriksson (SE), Inga Huld Hákonardóttir (IS), Kevin Fay (US)
Scenography and moving image: Eija-Liisa Ahtila
Sound design: Jani Hietanen
Light design: Luc Schaltin (movement I), Anton Verho (movement II,original design, adaptation Anna Pöllänen)
Costume design: Piia Rinne, Heide Vanderieck
Knitted hats and the neckwarmer: Anja Lehtovaara
Dramaturgical support: Merel Heering
Environmental educator: Riitta Nykänen (movement III)
Cinematography: Arto Kaivanto, Pekka Uotila
Edit: Heikki Kotsalo
Production assistant: Sofia Charifi
Production: Entirely Moved
Co-production: Zodiak, Moving in November, Institut finlandais
Productional support: Arts Management Helsinki
Recidencies: La Briqueterie CDCN Val-de-Marne (FR), wpZimmer (BE), BIT Teaterngarasjen (NO)
Supported by: Finnish Cultural Foundation, Arst Promotion Centre Finland, Dance House Helsinki / SPARKS, TelepArt / The Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux, The University of the Arts Helsinki (Tutke)
Special thank yous: Laatikkokauppa | Kirsi Pitkänen (realization of the boxes), Pro Av Saarikko Oy (video technic), Eventgear Oy (LED technic), Ilppo Pohjola | Crystal Eye, Pirjo & Jaakko Lehtovaara, Kauppakeskus REDI
Further information: