Empress' new clothes is a dance theatre work for children, which updates a timeless classic story to our time. The performance reflects our media and individual centered consumption culture where a constant need to be seen is like a lifeline. The themes of the piece are consumption, to be seen and communication. The humorious performance conveys the themes of the story with versatile movement of contemporary dance and ballet and with means of mimicry. Empress’ new clothes is filled with movement and kittenish music.
Empress’ new clothes includes Empress’ wardrobe photo exhibition with environmental education and workshops of media education and global education. The performance integrity is available for touring in schools.
Choreography and concept: Marjaterttu Willman
Music: Katalena, Sväng, Emir Kusturica, Jon Sarta, The O'Neill Brothers, Magnifico&Turbolenza, Skatalites, Propellerheads
Lighting design:Ainu Palmu
Costume design: Aapo Siikala
Set: Marjaterttu Willman, Aapo Siikala
Dancers:Jonna Aaltonen, Heidi Lehtoranta, Heidi Tiainen, Jenna Broas, Emmi Pennanen
Duration is 40 min.
The premiere was on 21th Nov 2019 in Power of Dance Festival, Kanneltalo, Helsinki
The city of Helsinki, Finnish Cultural Foundation and Teaterstiftelsen Vivicas Vänner have supported the work.
Last day describes a tight community, that is spendin their last day together. One remembers the past and challenges the future. Maybe a little bit nervousness also in the air because of separation. Who will one miss?
Choreography and concept: Marjaterttu Willman
Music: Suistamon Sähkö, Puhti
Lighting design: Ainu Palmu
Costume design: Niina Huovinen
Set: Marjaterttu Willman ja Anna-Maria Vairio
Dancers:The students of the Rikka education theatre of Vantaa Dance Institute
Duration 30 min.
The premiere was on 25.4.2019 in Vernissa, Vantaa.
Nine lives is a strong performance of a Western woman in a global world. It guestiones the western way of thinking by challenging the spectator into a debate. The piece brings up the confrontation of happiness and contentment.
The unfairness and the lottery of life are discussed in Nine lives. Why someone's destiny can be so different than other's? Why someone is lucky and someone else not? Does a Western woman stumble on her overly goals and ambition?Nine lives is based on the movement. It’s a fusion of dance theatre and contemporary dance. The is text spoken in the piece. The costumes are realised of recycled materials.
Choreography and concept: Marjaterttu Willman
Music: Composer Kimmo Pohjonen, assisting composer Samuli Kosminen
Light design: Jukka Huitila
Costume design: Aapo Siikala
Dancers:Jonna Aaltonen, Timo Korjus
Length of the piece 40 min.
The premiere was on 16.11.2017 in Power of dance festival in Helsinki Cable Factory.
Gasolin running hard in the veins discusses the path of an adolescent towards the adulthood. One lives the youth intensively from the teen age times. Friendships are important, the friend groups offer a community. The interest towards the opposite gender is often strong.
Youth have strong emotions in such issues as future and getting independent. The society often places too early expectations to an adolescent considering the future. Gasolin running hard in the veins is a piece that shows the life force of the youth as a priority. The expectations and pressures that come from outside are left behind.
Choreography and concept: Marjaterttu Willman
Music: Dalindeo, Carola Standertskjöld
Light design: Ainu Palmu
Costue design: Virpi Lehtinen
Dancers:The students of the Rikka education theatre of Vantaa Dance Institute
Length of the piece 30 min.
The premiere was on 15.4.2016 in Vernissa, in Vantaa.
Old people, odd people has got it’s idea from the lonely and cripple people of the streets. What are these weird individuals thinking? Why their grotesk and queer behaviour can be found so human? In the hustle and bustle of the city we don’t always recognise the wonderers that deviate from the masses.
Old people, odd people peeks at the living room of the lonely cripple. It places the spectator in front of a symbolical mirror to make a choice. It shakes out the prejudice and let's the spectator decide wether to feel responsibility of others or to walk along the path of the egoist person of our times. Are we ready to pay attention to the ones in a difficult situation? Tom Waits’ musical world and his rough voice telling strange stories create specific tone on stage.
Old people, odd people is a piece based strongly on the movement. Two strong and charismatic female dancers challenge their bodies with the movement. The interpretation of the dancers is essential in the piece.
Choreography and concept: Marjaterttu Willman
Music: Tom Waits, Miles Davis
Light design: Jukka Huitila
Set design: Marjaterttu Willman
Costume design: Aapo Siikala
Dancers:Maija Kiviluoto, Marjaterttu Willman
Producer:Tuija Lindholm
The length of the piece is 30 min.
Old people, odd people was premiered in Power of dance festival in Theatre Avoimet Ovet,Helsinki, on 7th May 2015.
Ankkurit irti addresses the limitations put on the individual by life and society. How do we feel when we are forbidden or we cannot? How often do we limit ourselves? As individuals we see also the limitations of other people. As we try to put ourselves in their position we create new perspective on our own lives.
Ankkurit irti is based on the piece called Anchors Aweigh which was choreographed for Finnish National Ballet on 2009 by Marjaterttu Willman. The content of Ankkurit irti addresses the same topics that Anchors Aweigh does, but there is 6 dancers performing the piece.
Choreography: Marjaterttu Willman
Music: Trey Gunn, Karen Dalton
Visual design: Kaapo Kamu, Marjaterttu Willman
Photographs: Kaapo Kamu
Lighting: Vesa Pohjolainen
Costumes: Barbora Zelnickova
Dancers: Contemporary dance students from Finnish National Opera Ballet School
Lenght 17 min.
Anchors Aweigh premiered on 16.5.2014 in Almi Hall of the Finnish National Opera.
Snowblind addresses the shaken spirit of a community. Loosing sight is a difficult topic in a community. The person who goes “blind” creates different reactions in the people around him. Reactions range from acceptance to rejection to fear.
Snowblind is a piece that concentrates on the dance. With dance the base ideas are processed. The dance is word, manifestation, emotion, reaction and interaction.
Choreography: Marjaterttu Willman
Music: Massive Attack
Lighting: Mikko Linnavuori
Costumes: Aapo Siikala
Dancers: Jonna Aaltonen, Heidi Lehtoranta, Andrius Katinas ja Mikko Paloniemi
Lenght 35 min.
Snowblind was premiered on 16.2.2012 in Cultural Centre Stoa in Helsinki.
Snowblind has been supported by Alfred Kordelin Foundation, National Council for Dance, The Arts Council of Uusimaa ja City of Helsinki Cultural Office.
Anchors Aweigh was choreographed by Marjaterttu Willman for the Finnish National Ballet. It addresses the limitations put on the individual by life and society. How do we feel when we are forbidden or we cannot? How often do we limit ourselves?
As individuals we see also the limitations of other people. As we try to put ourselves in their position we create new perspective on our own lives.
The atmosphere and look of Anchors Aweigh is created by the photos of Kaapo Kamu which are projected on to the stage. The dance and different stage situations interact with the projections.
The unique fusion music of Trey Gunn creates a strong touching point to the atmosphere of the piece.
Choreography: Marjaterttu Willman
Music: Trey Gunn, Karen Dalton
Visual design: Kaapo Kamu, Marjaterttu Willman
Photographs: Kaapo Kamu
Lighting: Vesa Pohjolainen
Costumes: Barbora Zelnickova
Dancers: Sara Vuorinen,Frans Valkama ja Aapo Siikala
Lenght 15 min.
Anchors Aweigh premiered on 20.3.2009 in Almi Hall of the Finnish National Opera.
In difficult situations we often say: “this is a place for growth”. We want to learn from our mistakes. At the same time we learn new things about ourselves.
What is a woman's way to growth? What happens inside a young woman when she is discovering and finding herself? How can a woman grow into a responsible person not only in her own life, but also in the life of the generations that come after her?
To these questions A rush of blood to the head (org. title: Veri nousee päähän) tries to find an answer. In A rush of blood to the head the aim is to create a piece about a womans multifaceted battle with herself, to contemplate the chaos of the mind and make it possible to identify with the communal strength between women.
In A rush of blood to the head six dancers meet the explosive original music of Kimmo Pohjonen. In a composition especially made for A rush of blood to the head Kimmo Pohjonen plays the accordion and the African finger piano.
Choreography: Marjaterttu Willman
Music: Kimmo Pohjonen
Lighting: Jukka Kaven
Costumes: Elina Harmoinen
Dancers: Francis Guardia, Heidi Lehtoranta, Maria Nurmela/Marjaterttu Willman, Maria Tamminen, Heikki Vienola ja Sara Vuorinen
Lenght 30 min.
A rush of blood to the head was premiered on 12.9.2008 in Cultural Centre Stoa in Helsinki.
The production was supported by Niilo Helander's Foundation, National Council for Dance ja City of Helsinki Cultural Office.
