Paperiliidokki | Paper plane

Veli Lehtovaara created Paper Plane as his graduation work in the master program of choreography. The piece was co-produced by Helsinki Theater Academy and P.A.R.T.S. in Brussels and toured extensively after its premiere in Helsinki in September 2009. 

The dance performance is composed as an installation work. It plays especially with the thematics of nearness and distance, the place of human being situated always in-between. The dramaturgical structure of the work is composed accordingly to the spatial relations of the choreographic materials. These materials consist of different approaches to choreography, such as: structured improvisation, movement composition based on repetition and accumulation, intertwining spoken language and physical movement and considering light and sound as choreographic materials.  

“There is no doubt in my mind that the finest dance performance I saw in 2009 was Veli Lehtovaara's installation piece at the Theater Academy in Helsinki. The mystery, poetry, movement - the timing, performance, and song of the dancing - was invitingly masterful.”

 – Deborah Hay 

Choreography: Veli Lehtovaara | Performance: Aron Blom, Eleni Pierides / Maria Ferreira Silva, Mikko Hyvönen | Sound design: Masi Tiitta | Light design: Jan Sulak, Seppo Lampio | Sound technic: Oula Susi | Photography: Noomi Ljungdell, Bart Grietens | Co-production: Helsinki Theater Academy (FI), P.A.R.T.S. (BE) | Premiere: 18.9.2009, Helsinki Theater Academy | Performances: Festival d’Automne 2010, Théâtre de la Cité Internationale (FR),  P.A.R.T.S. – Graduation tour 2010: Rosas Performing Space, Brussels (BE), Stuk, Leuven (BE), Bimeras, Istanbul (TR), Mousonturm, Frankfurt-am-Main (DE), Alkantara Festival, Lisbon (PT), Monty, Antwerp (BE), Kaaitheater, Brussels (BE), De Brakke Grond, Amsterdam (NL), Vooruit, Ghent (BE), Hebbel am Ufer/ Tanz im August Festival, Berlin (DE) | Duration: 60 min