The inventive choreography by P.A.R.T.S. alumni Mikko Hyvönen and Veli
Lehtovaara interacts with strong antagonism between visible and invisible. By
hiding and revealing the performance creates tension, which arouses emotions
from confusion to humor. Five charismatic performers – four dancers and a
musician -, minimalistic visuality and engaging sound design fuse into a unique composition that brings the audience on the threshold, the border of familiar and unknown.
On the Threshold is a combination of a dance performance and music concert. The
performance is built around a live musician and different chapters in the
choreography. The piece has influences from two differend dance traditions –
Finnish and Belgian dance. The composition of the choreography consists of set
steps and improvisation simultaneously. This combination brings on a rhytmically
exact dance but with a free and unpredictable form.
On the Threshold has been performed at several domestic and international dance festivals: Jyväskylä Summer Festival 2011, Full Moon Dance Festival 2011, Zodiak – New Dance Center 2011, Jyväskylä City Theatre 2011, Kuhmo’s Winter event 2012, International tanzmesse nrw, Düsümesse 2012, ICE HOT – Nordic Dance Platform, Helsinki 2012, Les Reperages -festival Lille, Ranska 2012.
”The debut work of the Dance Company Off/Balance overflows with young energy and challenges the audience to look carefully at detailed movement proposals.”
NEWSPAPER HELSINGIN SANOMAT
The debut of Dance Company Off/Balance
Choreography: Veli Lehtovaara and Mikko Hyvönen
Dance: Veli Lehtovaara, Mikko Hyvönen, Terhi Kuokkanen and Elina Häyrynen
Sound design and live music: Oula Susi
Costume design: Mirkka Nyrhinen
Production: Off/Balance
Funding: Regional Dance Center of Central Finland, Zodiak – Centre for New Dance
Premiere: 16.7.2011 Jyväskylä Summer Festival
Photos: Matti Häyrynen
