“And inside the spine is nature, always a lush corner where one can go when the breaking begins.” – Milka Luhtaniemi
Kunnes avartuu is a stage work by choreographer Veli Lehtovaara and his team, in which dance takes shape and appears in relation to Milka Luhtaniemi’s poetry collection Tauoton (Ceaseless, Gummerus, 2024). The piece is performed by dancers Elias Giród and Sofia Simola. Luhtaniemi is present on stage, speaking her poetry. The sound design and visual elements are created by artist Janne Hietanen.
The work explores the responses, resonances, intersections, and dissonances between dance and poetry. At its core is listening—poetry and dance in dialogue with one another. The performance draws momentum from Lehtovaara’s doctoral research at the University of the Arts Helsinki, which investigates choreographic writing and the ecological poetics of dance.
Choreography: Veli Lehtovaara in collaboration with the performers
Dance: Elias Giród, Sofia Simola
Poetry: Milka Luhtaniemi, Tauoton (Gummerus, 2024)
Sound and Moving Image: Jani Hietanen
Producer: Annika Sillander
Production: Entirely Moved | Kaikki Liikkuu ry
With the Support of: Arts Promotion Centre Finland, City of Helsinki
Thanks to: Central Finland Centre for Dance, TUTKE / Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki
www.spacetimelove.com
Photo: Jani Salonen