There are still places available in the workshop! If you'd like to sign up, please send an email to inari.pesonen@zodiak.fi
Motion, musical harmony, pulse; situations, reactions, coincidence and interaction,
Choreographing and composing our bodies and the space they inhabit over and over again.
What kinds of dramatic, harmonic and danceable versions and variations – even miniature works, perhaps? – the sensations, the experiences, the paths travelled, the incidents and the possibilities evoke over the three days?
The course by Maria Nurmela explores the potential opened by dialogue between movement and music – in this case live violin and cello music.
Course activities are based on improvisation and composition assignments, which may take movement, music, text or drama as the starting point. We throw ourselves into the world of music and motion and explore and feel rhythms, pulses and harmonies within our bodies – but also probe distances, proximities and shapes in the space we inhabit and within the group. The course uses improvised music born in the moment, often inspired by the movement of the dancer.
An exploratory and attentive frame of mind is applied to improve the participants' understanding of their own bodies and the range of their movements, to make their movements stronger, easier and more authentic, and to learn to experience music through more than one sense. The impressions and memories evoked by the music and the motions bring an autobiographical level to the course activities.
Live musical accompaniment is provided by musicians Laura Kokko and Juho Kanervo. The instructor and the musicians have collaborated previously in the workgroup that created the multi-disciplinary performance R.I.P. – Rest in Peace. All three are interested in working in the area between different forms of art and exploring styles, genres and combinations.
Maria Nurmela has worked as a freelance dancer, choreographer and dance instructor since 2002. She has collaborated with many choreographers of international renown, including Helena Franzén, Susanne Linke, Malou Airaudo, Yuval Pick and Hanna Brotherus. Her longest collaboration is with choreographer Tero Saarinen, with whom she has worked since 2003. Nurmela's choreographies have been staged in New York in Movement Research at the Judson Church production, by the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, and, as the latest production, in The Passion According to G.H. by the theatre company Kolmas Tila. In her own performances she emphasizes multi-disciplinary approach, and collaboration with musicians is always important to her.
Musician Laura Kokko has worked as a violinist in the Lahti Symphony Orchestra since 2005. She has also performed actively as a chamber musician (in Turku Music Festival, Katrina kammarmusik, Klang, Sinfonia Lahti Chamber Ensemble and others) and worked as the artistic director of the Volter Kilpi Literary Festival (2010–2013). Kokko studies philosophy and literature in the University of Turku and the baroque violin in the Novia University of Applied Sciences.
Juho Kanervo is a cellist and electric bass player originally from Juankoski. He studies music pedagogy in the Sibelius Academy and works as a music instructor and freelance musician (Saimaa, Laura Närhi, Yona, Sagolik, Pepe Willberg). His aim is to focus on the moment and the dialogue with the other musician as well as space and time through his music. Classical music, jazz and free improvisation are closest to his heart, but he enjoys all kinds of music and art without genre restrictions.
Friday 30 September at 18-20.30
Saturday 1 October at 10-14
Sunday 2 October at 10-14
Instructor: Maria Nurmela
Accompanists: Laura Kokko and Juho Kanervo
Location: Zodiak Studio C4
Duration: 3 sessions / 10,5 h
ours
Participation fee:
95 €
Cancellations by 23.9.
Availability is limited, so sign up in time! Welcome letters and invoices are sent to participants immediately after registration closes. Cancellations must be communicated no later than seven days before the course begins. With the exception of injuries and illnesses certified in writing by a doctor, cancellations made later than seven days before the course or workshop are subject to full course fee.
Please bring a receipt of your course payment to the first meeting of your course. Zodiak's courses and workshops can also be paid using pre-paid Liikuntaseteli and Kulttuuriseteli vouchers (Smartum Oy) as well as Virikeseteli vouchers (Edenred Oy).
For further inquiries, please contact Inari Pesonen at inari.pesonen@zodiak.fi or 050 412 7116 (weekdays from 11 am to 4 pm).
