Alpo Aaltokoski Company: Whirls
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3 performances
20.10-22.10.2022
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Duration
2h 45min, 2 intermissions
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Venue
Erkko Hall
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Tickets
50 / 45 / 25 €
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3 performances
20.10-22.10.2022
-
Duration
2h 45min, 2 intermissions
-
Venue
Erkko Hall
-
Tickets
50 / 45 / 25 €
A contemporary ballet masterpiece inspired by Finland’s national epic poem Kalevala
Through the language of contemporary dance, Alpo Aaltokoski Company interprets and brings to life a forgotten Finnish ballet masterpiece composed by Uuno Klami and Kalevi Aho.
Alpo Aaltokoski has created a contemporary choreography for twelve dancers to the classical music piece Whirls that tells the story of the forging of the mythical Sampo. Whirls contains both mythology from Finland’s national epic poem Kalevala and contemporary questions about people’s search for happiness and a better life.
For her work in Whirls, costume designer Marja Uusitalo was selected in the top three of costume design category at World Stage Design exhibition in Cardiff in September 2013.
Klami’s dramatic and evocative music receives a worthy reply from the movement. It swirls and undulates, but the individuals always return to join the collective whirling ring.
— Jussi Tossavainen, Helsingin Sanomat
Aaltokoski gives the music free rein, but the movement doesn’t illustrate the composition. The dance works with the music to create something new.
— Sara Nuberg, Etelä-Suomen Sanomat
Choreography
Alpo Aaltokoski
Music
Swirls (composer Uuno Klami / Kalevi Aho) Symphony Lahti recording
Dance
Johanna Ikola, Jouni Majaniemi, Tuovi Rantanen, Terhi Vaimala, Heidi Tiainen, Janne Aspvik, Jussi Väänänen, Jonna Eiskonen, Satu Rekola, Jack Traylen, Jere Jääskeläinen, Elias Berglund
Scenography and projections
Alisha Davidow
Lighting design
Matti Jykylä, Jere Mönkkönen
Costume design
Marja Uusitalo
Make-up
Terhi Kalliola
Alpo Aaltokoski is an excellent choice for this material - an experienced, mature choreographer who always works based on the moods and dramaturgy of the music, without becoming a slave to the music. In dance, you can not swell and do crescendo to infinity, and the choreography often utilizes the dramatic orchestral score's dramatic highlights with humor, irony, surprising stage solutions and the like.
— Tove Djupsjöbacka, Huvudstadbladet
Performance was unique because the presentation of a full-evening dance work in three parts was something that had never been attempted before in Finnish contemporary dance.” -- Whirls is a multi-layered work which reveals different aspects of itself on different occasions, not only visually but also with regards to the movement and the music. It is also clearly a total artwork in which the parts are intrinsically bound to one another. It is our good fortune that it has finally graced the stage.
— Annikki Alku, Uutispäivä Demari
