Finnish Dancer Stages Last Performance in Kenya
World famous Finnish dancer/choreographer Tero Saarinen has been touted by The New York Times (../../USA.jpg) as “Quite extraordinary and a powerful and impressive match for the music” – among many other worldly accolades. His widely celebrated work: Hunt (One of the most significant reinterpretations of iconic Russian composer Igor Stravinsky’s (1882-1971), commissioned by the Venice Biennale in 2002) is finally coming to a close, in Nairobi Kenya, after being performed in 31 countries.
This November, Tero will be staging his last performance of HUNT at the Alliance Française. He will be joined on stage by a team of professionals in the fields of theater and its unique techniques, during an invite-only show on the 14th of November and a public performance on the 15th – performances numbers 173 and 174 of HUNT subsequently marking Nairobi as the 82nd city and Kenya the 32nd country Saarinen interprets HUNT in. If being among those who see Tero perform HUNT last is not enough; also worthy to note is his interpretation of dance—intense and artistic. From costumes, his hauntingly graceful dance moves to how he embodies himself as a vessel that interprets life and stories, on stage, is a must-experience.
The choreographer began his career as a dancer at the Finnish National Ballet in 1985. Among awards, he has bagged the prize in the contemporary section of the acclaimed Concours International de Danse de Paris in France. He’s also worked with several internationally renowned choreographers and is still considered to be one of the world’s most significant contemporary dancers of his generation. Saarinen has decided to stop dancing the work after The Rite of Spring centennial in 2013, so Nairobi audiences will be the last to see the choreographer himself perform this unique work live on stage.
Kindly Note: The 32-minute Rite of Spring music will be choreographed by Tero Saarinen, music by Igor Stravinsky and costume design by Erika Turunen. HUNT contains strong strobe lighting effects.
Before the grand show, (between 12th and 14th November) Tero will be involved in a week-long workshop, for persons seeking to develop their skills and exchange views in theater techniques & arts management/production. Tero Saarinen’s final HUNT show will be at the Alliance Française on 15th November. Tickets will go for KES 500. For more, visit www.terosaarinen.com
Written by Anyiko Owoko
