The program reflects the long-standing cultural exchange and extensive performance work that dance artist Aaltokoski has engaged in, both within and beyond the borders of Finland.
A joint performance featuring three international male dancers will present the following works:
To Go or Not to Go (“Mies laiturilla”, “Man on the Pier”), a new solo dance piece by the 68-year-old Aaltokoski;
Navigatio, a solo originally created for Aaltokoski’s 30th-anniversary celebration in 2016, here interpreted by the Mexican dancer Emiliano Castillo;
De Una Semilla (“From a Seed”), a piece created in 1995 following Aaltokoski’s first trip to Nicaragua, performed here by the Nicaraguan-born dancer Yeinner Chicas.
Alpo Aaltokoski and Latin America
In 1994, Alpo Aaltokoski made his first trip to Latin America, visiting Nicaragua as it recovered from a civil war. Conducting dance classes for local dancers amidst such hardship – with the sounds of gunfire in the background – initially led Aaltokoski to question the very purpose of his work. However, his perspective shifted when one of the participants remarked: “We are poor, but must we also be poor in spirit?” This experience inspired the creation of a solo piece titled De Una Semilla (“From a Seed”), which Aaltokoski performed across the globe for many years. He has since entrusted the work to two Nicaraguan dancers; one of them, Yeinner Chicas, will arrive in Finland in April 2027 to present his own interpretation.
Over the past three decades, the Alpo Aaltokoski Company has collaborated with ten Latin American countries. The group has performed and led workshops in locations ranging from Nicaragua to Mexico, Bolivia, Brazil, and Venezuela. Aaltokoski has also staged his works with local dancers in the region: five pieces in Nicaragua, Después de Ayer in Bolivia (for Patricia Sejas), and Navigatio in Mexico (for Emiliano Castillo).
His adventures in Mexico and the rehearsal process for Navigatio are also featured in the biography “Alpo Aaltokoski – Kun kylän poika alkoi tanssia” (“Alpo Aaltokoski – When the Village Boy Began to Dance”, available in Finnish), written by Helmi Saksala and set for release in April 2027.
“I have drawn strength for my profession right here,” says Alpo Aaltokoski, referring to Latin America. He has always worked within the local context and, in turn, invited his partners to Finland for study visits and residencies.
Performances:
- TUE 13.4. at 18.00
- WED 14.4. at 18.00
- THU 15.4. at 18.00
- FRI 16.4. at 18.00
- SAT 17.4. at 15