Description
Ari Numminen began his career in the 1980s with Tanssiteatteri Raatikko and the Helsinki City Theatre Dance Company, later becoming an independent artist and choreographer. He is known for his numerous works performed in Finnish dance theatres such as Tanssiteatteri Tsuumi, Aurinkobaletti, M/D, and Tanssiteatteri Rimpparemmi.
Numminen has also created choreographies for theatre and opera, including productions for the Finnish National Theatre, the Finnish National Opera, Helsinki City Theatre, Rovaniemi City Theatre, and Turku City Theatre, covering both musicals and stage plays. His most recent theatre choreographies include Hamlet (Finnish National Theatre) and Vienan meri (Kajaani City Theatre).
After 20 years of working as a choreographer and director, Numminen has returned to performing and has created a trilogy of duets: Kohti Orlandoa, Vallankumousetydit, and Prospero. In Vaasa, we will see Kohti Orlandoa.
“In Kohti Orlandoa, my intention is to carry forward the themes of The Queen of Spades and rediscover within myself a new, more sensitive, dancing man. I am interested in the femininity of movement, which expresses the moods of sensual music – and vice versa. At 63, I am also curious to explore how my physicality has changed with age through my own lived experience.”
– Ari Numminen
Virginia Woolf’s novel Orlando tells the story of a character who lives for 400 years without aging, shifting between being a man and a woman. Dancer Ari Numminen and musician Tuomas Luukkonen’s work Kohti Orlandoa is inspired by this story, though it does not follow it directly. Kohti Orlandoa is the journey of a young tiger towards a Renaissance queen.
Guitarist and composer Tuomas Luukkonen, who performs in Kohti Orlandoa, has previously composed and performed music for Theatre Telakka productions such as Kama Sutra ja etydejä olemisesta (2009) and Sunnuntai (2019). His music draws influences from fado and Latin styles, is deeply sensual and melodic, and complements the themes of Kohti Orlandoa in an essential way.
Choreography: Ari Numminen
Dance: Ari Numminen
Music: Tuomas Luukkonen
