About the work
Miniatures is like a triple bill, an interaction of three smaller parts. These different sections – duet, solo and trio – are intentionally separate and independent. However, they also reflect and challenge one another. The work can be seen as research on humanity. We are trying to capture in it something essential of ourselves. For the choreographer the form of the work appears like a Cubist painting, simultaneously portraying its subject from multiple angles.
The material of the movement and the selection of the performers were based on dancers physique / genetics. It´s bringing together the long-legged and the blonde; the petite and the dark; dancers both muscular and full-figured. The basic idea was to let the various body types define the starting point for the movement material.
As the process developed, these bodily motifs became artistic themes that eventually shaped not only the choreography, but also the design of the music and space.
In part four – a separate bonus section – we will see what happens when all ingredients are thrown into the same kettle and stirred around. After all – as in life – we all have to get along somehow on this shared sandbox of ours.
Ensemble
Choreography and concept: Petri Kekoni
Composition and programming: Iiro Ollila
Lighting design: Ilkka Paloniemi
Costume design: Monika Hartl
Dance: Maija Kiviluoto, Kaisa Niemi 2013/Petri Kekoni 2014, Pekka Louhio, Jouni Majaniemi, Satu Rekola, Esete Sutinen
Vocals (recorded): Chamber choir Alku / Julia Lainema, Sanna Sundström, Vilma Talvitie, Matti Laaksonen, Lauri Hongisto, Joona Hasan
Keyed fiddle (recorded): Emilia Lajunen
Stage design: Petri Kekoni
Costume seamstress: Elina Riikonen
Stage construction: Heikki Rosti
Producer: Tuija Lindholm (2013)
Production: Petri Kekoni Company, Zodiak Centre for New Dance and JoJo – Oulu Dance Centre
Duration: 60 minutes
Solo: of 25 minutes available for stage
Supported by: Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Finnish Culture Fund, City of Helsinki Culture Office, Alfred Kordelin Foundation, Cinars, General Consulate Finland
World premiere at Oulu City Theatre on January 23rd 2013, Oulu, Finland
Helsinki premiere at Pannuhalli stage of Cable Factory on January 31st 2013.
Guest performance in Kuopio Dance Festival June 2013
APAP2014/ Ice Storm in New York 2014, January 11 th, at Gerald W. Lynch Theater
Critics
“The work can be approached from two viewpoints: One can either just enjoy the strong expression of the marvellous dancers, or one can see it as a collection of allegories. Such as the story of humankind – all in a single dance work!
At the centre of it all is the wonderful Esete Sutinen, who brings to mind images of Gaia, Mother Earth in her potent solo. Very impressive. In Iiro Ollila’s music, Philip Glass -styled minimalism meets Nordic folk tones in a delightful way.”
– Helsingin Sanomat, February 2nd 2013, Jussi Tossavainen
”Petri Kekoni’s idea of letting the dancers – all of different heights and builds – form the basis for the movements and artistic design of the piece bears abundant fruit. This is particularly so because this handpicked team does its job with such discipline and commitment. I think each of them has attained their best performance so far in a movement-based genre.
The work reminded me several times of Jiri Kylian. Kekoni’s choreographic material blends archaic ritual and ceremony with Western theatre art in the fields of both modern and classical dance traditions, integrating form, content and symbolism into its movement language.”
– Hufvudstadsbladet 3.2.2013. Jan-Peter Kaiku
