Production info Cycle for three female dancers deals with the course of life. This work is...
Production info Searching for freedom and presence within a group choreography. “All-in-all, the working process for...
“From A Seed” has its origin in Aaltokoski’s first trip to Nicaragua in 1994. Aaltokoski was teaching modern dance and made a choreography for a Nicaraguan dance company Danza Contemporanea de Camara de Nicaragua.
De Una Semilla is an intense, a ritual-like solo. Its simple and sometimes ascetic language of movement reflects the choreographer’s own inner world and his vision of movement.
Choreography & dance: Alpo Aaltokoski (orig. version) / Since 2016 dance: Yeinner Chicas (Nicaragua)
Music & sound design: Antti Riikonen
Lighting design: Tuukka Törneblom
Costume design: Päivi Uusitalo
Photos: Ninna Kuismanen
“That, which is most enigmatic, that which twines into the roots of being, that which can be found in the immaterial fountain of sensation, that I try to convey to you.”
– Gasquet
Premiere: October 1st 1995, Stoa the Cultural Centre of Eastern Helsinki, Finland
Aaltokoski interprets his own dance piece extremely well. His presence is compelling. He is like a full-drawn bow, waiting for the release. De Una Semilla is an almost magical trip, which captivates the spectator from the start.
Alpo Aaltokoski’s solo De Una Semilla is an overwhelming, magnificent dance piece. It makes one just sit back, speechless, and let the different elements, the body, the movements, the music and the lights, flow to the consciousness without barriers. It is a source of energy, a balanced, complete work, that fills the spectator with vitality.
Alpo Aaltokoski’s new work De Una Semilla is a very intense and complete solo dance piece in which structure and contents are a perfect match. In this solo, Aaltokoski has developed his technique and the means of expression he has pursued in his earlier works. The result is a particularly strong and original performance. One might call it a breakthrough, or as an allusion to the title De Una Semilla (from a seed), say that a seed now has grown into a strong seedling.
The repetitive movements and the intensity of the performance make it a thrilling experience. The word shamanistic is perhaps used all too often, but in Aaltokoski’s case there are good grounds. There is magic, originality and depth in his performance. This solo is a must-see!
Premiere 1.10.1995 Stoa the Cultural Centre of Eastern Helsinki, Finland
Other Performances
1996 International Theatre Festival, Tampere, Finland
1996 Pyhäsalmi
1997 Teatro Ruben Dario Managua, Nicaragua
1997 Teatro de la Danza Mexico City, Mexico
1998 Tanssi Itää Festival, Joensuu, Finland
1998 Helsinki, Finland
1999 Oulu, Finland
October 21, 2005 Festival Internacional de Solos y Duetos en Danza, Teatro Teresa Carreño (Auditorium José Félix Rivas), Caracas, Venezuela (1)
May 25, 2006 (performed by Mariano Vega) The World Village Festival, Dance Theatre Hurjaruuth, Helsinki, Finland (1)
May 27-28, 2006 (performed by Mariano Vega) Studio Sotku, Kuopio, Finland (2)
December 10-17, 2008 (performed by Joona Halonen), KokoTeatteri, Helsinki, Finland (5
May 4-5, 2016 (performed by Yeinner Chicas) Alexander Theatre, Helsinki, Finland (2)