Paula Tuovinen (FI): In freundschaft

The choreography for a dancer and a bassoonist was born out of Timo Kortesmäki’s initiative and desire to play Karl Heinz Stockhausen’s 1977 piece, “In Freundschaft”. We studied the score as closely as possible. Not only did we want to learn the piece sound by sound but to also unearth influences for the choreography from the texture of the score, from musical directions as well as Stockhausen’s own impressions. We interpreted such instructions as: “überraschende geste” (surprising gestures), “langsame Schleife im Raum” (slow circles in space), “tänzerisch – heiter” (dance-like – joyous) in a way we saw fit. We were also eager to apply such instructions to sections that did not include them. Also, in our own way we stayed true to Stockhausen’s teddy bear association.

Paula Tuovinen has worked widely on the Finnish dance scene since 1982 as a dancer, choreographer and teacher. Her choreographies are marked by irony and humour, a combination of styles and performativity. She has also collaborated with filmmakers, composers and plastic artists. She is currently a lecturer at the Theatre Academy of Finland, Dance Department.