Hämärän Hohde 2021
Kekoni, composer Jovanka Trbojević (1963-2017), and Avanti’s collaboration led to the creation of three highly praised works: Hämärän Hohde (2005), Vierasperäisiä Muunnelmia (2009), and Pysähdys – Taiteen pimeä aine (2016).
These works represent a genre in Finnish contemporary dance that has, in part, been forgotten; the union of live score music and dance art. While it can be argued that the relationship between sound art and dance art has not disappeared, these works contain something that has not been seen for a long time: the monumental nature of the overall form of movement and music, with the works being seen as miniature masterpieces of dance art.
The state of the world is worrying, and climate change is discussed nearly every day. The text for Hämärän Hohde was written by Icelandic poet Sjón. He spoke of the melting glaciers and volcanic eruptions in the piece. This clear prophecy is one reason to highlight this particular work at this time. Hämärän Hohde carries a dark, apocalyptic tone, as if standing at the edge of the end times, but through the music and movement, the work also conveys a sense of hopeful clarity and optimism.
Petri Kekoni Company’s activities include occasionally unearthing forgotten gems. There is always something in the themes of each work brought forward that invites them to be performed in the present time—sometimes, there is a distinct feeling that the time has come for a certain work to emerge.
WORDS FROM THE WORKING GROUP
"It all started with the stone and its glow, the vision of movement happening in the twilight: statue-like figures and explosive movement. Piercings. Eruptions. The mass of movement stops in solitary moments."
"I feel endless fascination with the dialogue between heavy primitive thuds and clearly defined, aestheticized arcs of movement. The work highlights the significance of movement composition, for me it meant a return to the craft of choreography. In Hämärän Hohde, the primitive spirit mixes with the architectural nature of movement and space."
– Kekoni
"The music of the work is based on my piece Oro (1994). The inspiration for Oro comes from Balkan folk dances, which have taken on a modern form in the composition. I got the idea to combine different elements of Oro, like a puzzle."
"The elements (6 circles) seek their place in time and space until they finally meet. The original Oro comes together at the end, completing the picture. A second dimension is brought to the music by the text written by Sjón, specifically for this piece. Sjón's speech was recorded according to my instructions, with varying tempos and emotional states, making the text an organic part of the musical space."
– Jovanka Trbojević
”Now some say it is the frozen heart of Loki, some say it is a navel, some call it pain , some call it mother…”
– Sjón
”Häkellyttävän hieno kokemus… Tanssi kulkee raa’an primitiivisyyden ja älyllisyyden risteyskohdassa… Petri Kekoni on koreografeistamme yksi omaperäisemmistä, hän on onnistunut jalostamaan liikettään aivan omaan suuntaansa.”
– Jussi Tossavainen, HS
"Petri Kekoni has proven to be an important name in Finnish contemporary dance." – Tove Djupsjöbacka, HBL
"Through the performance, nature has shown both its power and its beauty, and there is nothing more to add." – Annikki Alku, Demari
"Hämärän Hohde creates a captivating world as a whole, which maintains its mysterious tone from start to finish." – Kaisa Kurikka, Turun Sanomat
Choreography and consept Petri Kekoni
Dancers Maija Kiviluoto, Tanja Illukka, Terhi Vaimala, Anna Stenberg, Marika Peura, Petri Kekoni
Composer Jovanka Trbojević
The Avanti! Chamber Orchestra string quartet Kari Olamaa, violin, Teija Kivinen, violin, Tuula Riisalo, viola, Sami Mäkelä, cello
Light design: Anna Rouhu
Costume design: Monika Hartl
Text and voice over: Sjón
Set design: Petri Kekoni
Technical implemention: Heikki Rosti / Verstas Helsinki
Production: Anne Peippo / Petri Kekoni Company
Premiere:
16.9.2005. Stoa, Helsinki
07/2021 Täydenkuun Tanssit, Pyhäjärvi
11/2021 Circo Maneesi, Helsinki
