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March 15, 2006
Pure gold for Toronto
After five days and nights walking to the Harbourfront Centre Dance Theatre and back to the hotel, eating plenty of falafels from Lebanese shop on my way, it was really nice to wake up one morning from the 35th floor, make some coffee, admire Lake Ontario from a birds perspective and open the fresh newspaper, the Globe and Mail, and read the title and first chapters:
Saarinen's alchemy spins pure gold
Reader be warned. This review is going to gush. The gushee in question is Finland's Tero Saarinen Company, which is making its long overdue Canadian debut. If the opposite of Eurotrash is Eurogold, this outstanding contemporary dance troupe is a precious metal indeed.
To create that all-important first impression, Saarinen has brought three of his signature works, and each is a gem in its own right. But the evening is more than three wonderfully provocative dance pieces. Equally impressive is how Saarinen has structured the program. The build, from one dance to the next in terms of mood and impact, is architectural perfection. The other exceptional component is the design element as manifested in Mikki Kunttu's rapturous lighting and the gorgeous originality of Erika Turunen's costumes.
Completing this Finnish dream team is multimedia artist Marita Liulia, whose contribution to Saarinen's famous solo Hunt is simply breathtaking.
This time pure gold made in Finland is not ice hockey but modern dance!
Posted by marita at March 15, 2006 03:19 PM