Peltotiekeskustelu / Conversations

PROJECT

Peltotiekeskustelu / Conversations

What happens when the mind falls to where the heart is?

Conversations is a dance of gradual transformation. The passage of steps and thoughts unfolds in circles and waves. It is a performance of letting go of that which will not stay without a holding. Falling, drifting, floating, and flying, singing within and dancing without, breathing and walking together, it is a conversation with three distinct voices that entangle as they form circular paths in time. A dance where words become what they once were – trees, stars, and substance of primeval environment – writing turns back to traces of movement.

How can a dance open up an ability to perceive nature in ourselves and remember our belonging to and origin in the circle of life?

The choreography is inspired by a text of Martin Heidegger written in 1944-45: A Triadic Conversation on a Country Path between a Scientist, a Scholar and a Guide.

Veli Lehtovaara

Veli Lehtovaara is a Finnish choreographer and dancer based in Brussels. He works regularly in Helsinki and lives part of the year at Villa Kaunisto by the Lake Päijänne, Central-Finland. Lehtovaara studied philosophy, dance and choreography in Finland and Belgium. At the moment Veli is associated artist at Kunstenwerkplaats Pianofabriek and one of the Focus Artists in the project [DNA] Departures and Arrivals, supported by the Creative Europe program of the European Commission. From 2015 to 2017 Veli danced with Rosas / Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker. During the years 2011-2013 he was artist in residency at Zodiak – Center for New Dance, Helsinki. Currently Veli is conducting a research project, Natural resources. Parallel to the research he is creating the dance performance Peltotiekeskustelu – Conversations. Veli has worked with Piet Arfeuille, Eleanor Bauer, Vincent Dunoyer, Mikko Hyvönen, Marianna Henriksson, Anne-Teresa de Keersmaeker, Chrysa Parkinson and Benjamin Vandewalle amongs

Credits

Choreography: Veli Lehtovaara in collaboration with the dancersDancers: Elisaveta Penkova, Mikko Hyvönen, Veli LehtovaaraAssisting dancer: Kevin FayLighting design: Luc SchaltinSound design: Jani HietanenMoving image: Eija-Liisa AhtilaCostume design: Heide VanderieckProducer: Riika ThitzProduction: Zodiak – Center for New Dance, Kunstenwerkplaats Pianofabriek, SpaceTimeLoveWith the support of: Arts Promotion Center Finland, Alfred Kordelin Foundation, Kone FoundationResidencies: Zodiak – Center for New Dance (FI), Kunstenwerkplaats Pianofabriek (BE), STUK – House for Dance, Image and Sound (BE), Kunstencentrum BUDA (BE), Château de Monthelon (FR), wpZimmer (BE)