Focus on the Local Landscape meanders with a large variety of works through the ten days of Moving in November.
Focus on the Local Landscape is both an artistic program and the starting point of a discussion, addressing the local culture-political situation that is becoming increasingly complicated and hostile for the performing arts scene in Finland. There are insufficient resources to research, rehearse, produce and present performances, but also to curate a festival. Yet there is a university that highly educates dancers and choreographers and releases them into a world that seems to hold less and less space for them.
With Focus on the Local Landscape, Moving in November embrace artistic proposals from the local performing arts scene that came towards us by chance. Choreographers who, for example, received funding to produce but lacked venues, or a frame and visibility to present their works. We decided to include these proposals into this year’s program. Examining what happens when different resources are brought together to create a program.
Artists and companies, institutions and Moving in November joining forces and gathering resources (communication tools, funding, production skills, spaces, staff, technical equipment, time, visibility etc.), is a response and a political statement.
Focus on the Local Landscape begins with Turn Turtle Turn – the lecture performance. Annika Tudeer, the founder and artistic director of Oblivia celebrates her 60th birthday with this solo on life, death and dodos.
In GRIT (for what it’s worth), choreographer Milla Koistinen examines the ability to persevere through hardships, fatigue and obstacles, embodying the spirit of endurance in its most personal form.
Mycoscores / Choreospores by Maija Hirvanen is presented in two forms: a 1:1 card reading and the launch and presentation of a publication. This work explores the connections between fungal and human ways of being, particularly through movement and dance.
On Friday, November 15, we invite you to a Soup Talk Panel. Artists Raphaël Beau, Sara Grotenfelt, Milla Koistinen, Anne Naukkarinen and Lydia Touliatou will have a conversation together with the host Simo Kellokumpu about the culture-political situation in Finland, based on their personal working experiences.
The Teak Open Studio invites to witness the artistic process behind the final artistic work of the artists-students in the MA in Dance Performance program. This year choreographer and dancer Renan Martins will choreograph a piece with them.
Dance company Liisa Penttii +Co hosts a whole day dedicated to dance and music improvisation in Oodi’s Maijansali hall. Feel welcome to join to Dance Improooo!
With A cloud and its shadow, Reality Research Center explores the relation between performance, documentation, reality and memory. Artists Emma Fält and Alina Sakko take you on a three-stop journey to uncover the memories of past Moving in November performances.
Audience Club by Anna Kozonina is a participatory format that invites festival’s visitors to get deeper understanding of dance art in relation to pressing issues of our contemporary world. It allows to learn more about the language of dance and performance, gain confidence in articulating questions and opinions, finding a community for discussions and immersing deeper into this year’s festival’s program. Unfortunately there are no spaces left, but you can reach out to the group when you meet them and ask about their findings.
Welcome to Focus on the Local Landscape a collaboration between Anna Kozonina, Maija Hirvanen, Milla Koistinen, Liisa Pentti +Co, Oblivia, Reality Research Center, Caisa, Madhouse Helsinki, Kiasma, Stoa, Taideyliopisto and Moving in November !
Kerstin Schroth & the Moving in November team