AN EVENING WITH THE YOUNG DANCERS OF THE FNB

In the Glow evening the young talent of the Finnish National Ballet takes over the Almi Hall stage. The programme comprises Jorma Elo’s and Kristian Lever’s contemporary dance works, and excerpts from the gems of classical ballet. The dancers on stage are members of the FNB Youth Company, who have started their professional dancing careers in the past few years.

The first part of the evening features new choreography by Olmo Verbeeck Martínez, dancer from the FNB Youth Company, and classical ballet repertoire: the most magnificent pas de deuxs and variations from Don Quijote and Coppélia. These are followed by Jorma Elo’s contemporary dance work Over Glow and, finally, the World Premiere of Collection of Connections by Kristian Lever.

Trailer

Unattainable Closure

“I want to further explore the idea of being with someone from a distance. To put in practice what they’ve taught you, to remember, to talk about them and to understand that not being able to see, touch or speak to someone doesn’t mean they’re gone.”

– Olmo Verbeeck Martínez

Over Glow

“Over Glow is inspired by my love to these three pieces of music, and how the dancers react when hearing them and connecting movements to it – first with the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet dancers in the world premiere and now with the Finnish National Ballet Youth Company. The process goes on – try to make it better, more interesting, try to make the structure more complex. That’s what I love to do. I kind of hate in when stuff is ready.

There is an underlining dramatic inspiration I had during the time of the creation. I suddenly realized that my parents were clearly losing their sharpness in their everyday life, and I was thinking of the way the generations keep on moving. There is a strong element of dying, of death. And of something continuing despite that. When one thinks of death, you think something stops. But nothing stops. The machinery keeps on going. Is it sad, or beautiful? I don’t know.”

– Jorma Elo

A Collection of Connections

“With this somewhat chaptered creation, I hope the audience interprets the show however they feel best fit, without judgement or trying to understand the intended meaning.  Setting out to create “A Collection of Connections”, I hoped to create an intense atmosphere and connection in the theatre between the viewer and the performer, as well as among the dancers themselves.  On an abstract level, exploring themes of love, loss, and community, we strive to illustrate through the dance the different connections we build, destroy and let go of as human beings.  

Naturally, I hope the audience enjoys the visual aspect of the work.  However, more important than the movement itself, I hope we can move the audience.  Yearning to create and engage with more profound meaning and go beyond the pure form of the dance, I hope the audience will find sensitive and evocative tableaus through dynamic and frenetic choreography.  

Upon arriving in the studio, I wanted to tailor-make the work on the dancers in front of me.  I was very inspired and am today deeply grateful to these incredibly gifted young dance artists for their creative contributions.”

– Kristian Lever

The Finnish National Ballet Youth Company

Gallery

creative team

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Fund for Innovation in Dance has lent the costumes of Over Glow to FNB.

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