SARASTUKSIA - DAWNINGS
Photo: Merja Isokoski
SARASTUKSIA (DAWNINGS)
Intertwining visual art, dance and music (2017)
A multidisciplinary performance at the Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Arts for 10 young dancers and two musicians.
Dawnings drew its inspiration from the art and life of Finnish sculptor Wäinö Aaltonen, taking as a starting point his sculptures, paintings and prints - their aesthetics, forms, narrative qualities and feelings - as well as Aaltonen’s personal letters to his sisters. Through dance and theatre, the piece took us on a journey into Wäinö's life and art. The music of the performance included both improvisation and compositions (cello/piano).
This project brought together dance professionals, musicians and avid dance and theatre enthusiasts from Turku, and was initiated and put together by Turku-based dance artist Maria Nurmela, in collaboration with the Tanssitiimi Dance School / Kirsti Nurmela. The project was carried out in collaboration with the Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art, the Tanssitiimi Dance School and the Tanssitiimi Dance Association. The project formed part of the official Finland100 programme, celebrating the centenary of Finland’s independence, the 50th anniversary of the Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art and the 35th anniversary of the Tanssitiimi Dance School.
CREDITS
Concept, choreography, direction: Maria Nurmela
Script: Kirsti Nurmela, Ritva Bergström
Text: based on Wäinö Aaltonen’s letters
Music: Emil Holmström (25/2 - 26/2) Juho Kanervo (4/3 - 5/3),
Choreographer’s assistant: Anna Lemberg (Regional Dance Centre of Western Finland), Costumes: Inkeri Kanninen
Performers
Pietari Kärki, Anna Lemberg (Regional Dance Centre of Western Finland)
Tanssitiimi Dance School students: Aiste Ivanauskaite, Martta Lahtinen, Lotta Lempinen, Evi Oivanen, Eero- Heikki Puustinen, Ulriikka Pyykkönen, Merimari Seppänen, Nea Vuorinen
Production Maria Nurmela,Tanssitiimi Dance School / Tanssitiimi Dance Association,Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art, Finland100 programme
Supporters Finland100 programme, the City of Turku, the Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art, Regional Dance Center of Western Finland
Photos Merja Isokoski (photo of Evi Oivanen)
Duration 60 min Performance language Finnish
The Tanssitiimi Dance School is a private dance school providing basic education in dance art, founded in 1982. On December 17th 2014, the Cultural Committee of the City of Turku approved Tanssitiimi's new syllabi for basic education in the arts.The school has been providing basic education in the arts since 1994. The Tanssitiimi Dance School and the Tanssitiimi Dance Association operate in close alliance, supporting and complementing each other.The Tanssitiimi Dance School offers children, teenagers and adults the opportunity to practise and study different dance styles with the guidance of professional educators and artists.The school's objectives are to encourage interest in dance, to organize high-quality performances and to help maintain a diverse cultural offer and arts education in Turku.
For over thirty years,Tanssitiimi has put on student performances in a theatre, with the students of different dance styles taking turns in performing and enjoying the public's encouragement.The school's students have taken part in various cultural events in the city of Turku, as well as dance competitions, festivals and community dance shows. Performances form an important part of Tanssitiimi's arts education programme, with visible emphasis on the professional quality of their organization. In addition to choreography and direction, costumes, set design, lighting, music and publicity design are also given great attention.The skilful combination of all these elements has made it possible to produce top-quality student performances. In the spring of 2017,Tanssitiimi celebrates its 35th anniversary. Many of the school's former students are now working as professionals in the cultural sector or still dancing on a regular basis.