Double Exposure – Dance Meets Contemporary Circus

Double Exposure, collaboration between Finnish circus artist Ville Walo and Korean choreographer Sungsoo Ahn, gets its world premiere in Helsinki Festival on August 18th. The performance can be seen in Stoa Cultural Centre of Eastern Helsinki four times in total, after which it will be performed in Seoul.

Plastic Surgery on Stage
Ballet, contemporary circus, street dance — the artists’ diverse backgrounds shine trough, making Double Exposure such a unique experience, full of surprises. Moving between dance and object manipulation, the performance reflects modern-day reality: in Korean cosmetic surgeons’ operating rooms Asian features are altered to fit the global ideal of the perfect face. With plastic faces dancing on the performers’ shoulders, the show reveals the conflict between unrealistic ideals and real individuals. The performance mixes elements of classical music with electronic rhythms and gracefully moves from grotesque horror and entertainment imagery to delicate traditional Asian dance.

Unique Collaboration Crosses Borders
Double Exposure is the result of a year-long collaboration. The Korean dance company Sungsoo Ahn Pick-Up Group and the Finnish contemporary circus company WHS began developing the collaboration project in summer 2011. The two companies met through the Korea-Finland Connection networking project. As the artists were inspired by each other’s work, the groups started to develop ideas for a shared performance.

During the rehearsal process all the participants have exposed themselves to new working methods and perspectives. The contrasts between similarity and diversity have stimulated fresh ideas. The fascinating, funny and at times even scary feeling of otherness has become an interwoven part of this piece’s theme and structure.

WHS is a pioneer of Finnish contemporary circus and one of the most active Finnish performing arts companies internationally. Korean Sungsoo Ahn has made choreographies for more than 20 years. The Juilliard School graduate is currently the director of the choreography department in the Korea National University of Arts.

Information:
Tel: 0503398598 / 0503705123
Email: contact@w-h-s.fi
www.w-h-s.fi

Performances:
Sat 18.8. at 19 (premiere)
Mon 20.8. at 19
Tue 21.8. at 19
Wed 22.8. at 19

Concept and direction: Sungsoo Ahn and Ville Walo
Choreography: Sungsoo Ahn
Performers: Juhee Lee, Sooin Park, Boram Kim, Kungmin Jang, Soyoung Choi and Ville Walo
Lighting design: Jere Mönkkönen
Set and costume design: Anne Jämsä
Sound design: Samuli Kosminen

Production: WHS and Sungsoo Ahn Pick-up Group in collaboration with Stoa, Helsinki Festival, Seoul International Dance Festival, Korea Arts Management Service, Seoul Art Space Hongeun and The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Finland

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