Tero Saarinen
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Tero Kalevi Saarinen (born September 7, 1964, in
Pori Pori (; ; ) is a city in Finland and the regional capital of Satakunta. It is located on the west coast of the country, on the Gulf of Bothnia. The population of Pori is approximately , while the Pori sub-region, sub-region has a population of a ...
, Finland”Saarinen, Tero Kalevi”, ''Kuka kukin on: Henkilötietoja nykypolven suomalaisista 2011'', p. 869. Helsinki: Otava, 2011. . ) is a Finnish dance artist and
choreographer Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements of physical bodies (or their depictions) in which Motion (physics), motion or Visual appearance, form or both are specified. ''Choreography'' may also refer to the design itself. A chor ...
, and Artistic Director of
Tero Saarinen Company Tero Saarinen Company is a dance group led by Finnish dance artist and choreographer Tero Saarinen, which he founded in 1996. In Helsinki the group is the programme partner of Dance House Helsinki, where the company presents not only Tero Saar ...
. Saarinen has made an international career as both a dancer and choreographer.
''Tero Saarinen Company''
As a choreographer Saarinen is known for his uniquePlacenty, Cecly
Tero Saarinen Company - Poetry Dancing
May 2006. Ballet Dance Magazine
movement language that plays with balance and off-balance, combining influences from
Butoh is a form of Japanese dance theatre that encompasses a diverse range of activities, techniques and motivations for dance, performance, or movement. Following World War II, butoh arose in 1959 through collaborations between its two key founder ...
and
martial arts Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; ...
to
classical ballet Classical ballet is any of the traditional, formal styles of ballet that exclusively employ classical ballet technique. It is known for its aesthetics and rigorous technique (such as en pointe, pointe work, turnout (ballet), turnout of the legs, ...
and Western contemporary dance.Ahonen, Piia
What is Tero Saarinen's dancing made of?
2002. Finnish Dance in Focus.
Saarinen's movement language has been described as “organic” and “inventive”, “like Butoh with wings.” He began his career at the Finnish National Ballet in 1985. His long international career as a soloist took off in 1988, after he won first prize at the Concours International de Danse de Paris. Saarinen left the Finnish National Ballet in 1992 to seek new influences in
Western Europe Western Europe is the western region of Europe. The region's extent varies depending on context. The concept of "the West" appeared in Europe in juxtaposition to "the East" and originally applied to the Western half of the ancient Mediterranean ...
and
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
, where he studied traditional Japanese dance and
Butoh is a form of Japanese dance theatre that encompasses a diverse range of activities, techniques and motivations for dance, performance, or movement. Following World War II, butoh arose in 1959 through collaborations between its two key founder ...
from 1992 to 1993. Saarinen founded his own group,
Tero Saarinen Company Tero Saarinen Company is a dance group led by Finnish dance artist and choreographer Tero Saarinen, which he founded in 1996. In Helsinki the group is the programme partner of Dance House Helsinki, where the company presents not only Tero Saar ...
, in 1996. By April 2018, he has created 46 original works, many of them for other dance groups.
Nederlands Dans Theater Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT; literal translation Netherlands Dance Theatre) is a Dutch contemporary dance dance company, company. NDT is headquartered at the ''Amare'' building in The Hague. NDT also performs at other venues in the Netherlands ...
, the French ballets of
Lyon Lyon (Franco-Provençal: ''Liyon'') is a city in France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of the French Alps, southeast of Paris, north of Marseille, southwest of Geneva, Switzerland, north ...
,
Marseille Marseille (; ; see #Name, below) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Bouches-du-Rhône and of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region. Situated in the ...
and
Lorraine Lorraine, also , ; ; Lorrain: ''Louréne''; Lorraine Franconian: ''Lottringe''; ; ; is a cultural and historical region in Eastern France, now located in the administrative region of Grand Est. Its name stems from the medieval kingdom of ...
, the Portuguese Ballet Gulbenkian, the Israeli
Batsheva Dance Company The Batsheva Dance Company (Hebrew: להקת בת שבע) is a renowned dance company based in Tel Aviv, Israel. It was founded by Martha Graham and Baroness Batsheva de Rothschild in 1964. Its inception was inspired by Israel's growing inter ...
, the Swedish Gothenburg Opera ballet, the Finnish National Ballet, and others, have featured Saarinen's works in their repertoires.
''Tero Saarinen Company''
Saarinen has received numerous acknowledgements for his work as an artist. In 2001 he was awarded the Finland Prize, and in 2005 Pro Finlandia, the Pro Finlandia medal. In 2008 The Finnish Cultural Foundation gave him an award for his achievements as an artist. International recognition includes the international Movimientos Dance Prize for Best Male Performer, and the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, granted by the French government, both in 2004.


Career


Early years

As a child Tero Saarinen was always involved in one hobby or another, at different times he played ice hockey or football, cross-country skied or trained in gymnastics.Lappalainen, Tiina
Boundary pusher
vol 2, 2011. Blue1 Dream.
In middle school he became inspired by the
visual arts The visual arts are art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics (art), ceramics, photography, video, image, filmmaking, design, crafts, and architecture. Many artistic disciplines such as performing arts, conceptual a ...
, and his other hobbies had to give way, until a dance school opened in Pori and Saarinen's father encouraged him to take up
jazz dance Jazz Dance is a performance dance and style that arose in the United States in the early 20th century. Jazz Dance may allude to vernacular Jazz, Broadway or dramatic Jazz. The two types expand on African American vernacular styles of dance that ...
. This interest in visual arts can still be seen in Saarinen's choreographies: he has said he sees the stage as his canvas.Ilvesheimo, Gerry Birgit
Ihmisinstrumentti
26.3.2005. Kauppalehti Presso.
Saarinen was 16 when he started taking dance classes in Pori.Anderson, Jack
From Finland, wearing large tutus
26.3.2006. The New York Times.
He soon developed a passion for dance, and his dance teacher Liisa Nojonen sent Saarinen to Helsinki to take the entrance exam for the Finnish National Opera Ballet School. Saarinen was accepted for the ballet school in 1982, at the age of 17.Launonen, Krista
Glorian lähikuvassa tanssija, koreografi tero Saarinen: Yhtä tanssin kanssa.
June 2002. Gloria.
He had practised dance for a little over a year when he started at the school, while the other students were only 12 years old.


Career beginnings in Finland

Saarinen studied at the National Opera Ballet School from 1982 to 1986. In 1985 he was taken on as a dancer at the National Ballet. He was soon given soloist's roles and became one of the National Ballet's audience favourites, alongside Tommi Kitti.Räsänen, Auli

30.3.1993. Helsingin Sanomat Kuukausiliite.
Boccadora, Patricia
Tero Saarinen and "Tootchpick"
7.12.1998. www.culturekiosque.com.
In 1988 Saarinen won first prize in the contemporary category at Concours International de Danse in Paris with
Jorma Uotinen Jorma Leo Kalevi Uotinen (born 28 June 1950 in Pori) is a Finnish dancer, singer and choreographer. As a dancer and choreographer, Uotinen has worked both in many dance groups, both in and outside of Finland, since 1970. He has received many Fin ...
's choreography ''B12''.B12 (solo)
''Tanka - the Finnish Dance Database''. Dance info Finland.
After his victory in this prestigious competition, his career began to soar both in Finland and internationally.Isola, Samuli

Spring-Summer 2007. Welcome to Finland.
Saarinen started creating his own choreographies, and began receiving invitations to appear in productions outside of the National Ballet. He was a visiting soloist with the Helsinki City Theatre's dance group in 1989-1991. Saarinen's first choreography was a Japan-inspired solo choreography ''Ondekoza'' (1989). This was followed by another solo piece ''Kehtolaulu'' (1990), which addressed personal concerns; the hardships of taking responsibility, and growing pains.Jyrkkä, Hannele (toim.): ”Tero Saarinen – Paljaan tilan etsijä”, ''Tanssintekijät – 35 näkökulmaa koreografin työhön'', s. 183. Jyväskylä: Like publishing Ltd., 2005. . Saarinen's first opportunity to make a group piece came when his former dance teacher Liisa Nojonen asked him to create a work for her company. They then gave the result, ''More Milk'', its premiere in 1991.


The start of an international career

After his competition victory in Paris, Saarinen toured the world as a soloist. Alongside
Jorma Uotinen Jorma Leo Kalevi Uotinen (born 28 June 1950 in Pori) is a Finnish dancer, singer and choreographer. As a dancer and choreographer, Uotinen has worked both in many dance groups, both in and outside of Finland, since 1970. He has received many Fin ...
's solo piece ''B12'' Saarinen got to interpret ''Déjà Vu'', a solo piece by
Murray Louis Murray Louis (November 4, 1926 – February 1, 2016) was an American modern dancer and choreographer. Life Louis was known as one of the most influential American modern dancers and choreographers. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he grew up in Manh ...
, which had previously only been permitted to be danced by the choreographer himself and
Rudolf Nureyev Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev (17 March 19386 January 1993) was a Soviet-born ballet dancer and choreographer. Nureyev is widely regarded as the preeminent male ballet dancer of his generation as well as one of the greatest ballet dancers of all ...
. With success, Saarinen found it increasingly hard to settle for the male roles and opportunities as a dancer offered by classical ballet. His breakaway came with the solo piece ''Takana'' (1992), a declaration of new beginnings and of leaving the past behind. This process first led to Saarinen taking a year off, and eventually resigning from his tenured post at the National Ballet in 1993. At first Saarinen journeyed to
Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...
for two months, where he travelled and studied Nepalese dance at the Kala-Mandapa Institute in Kathmandu, under the instruction of Rajendra Shestra. In the fall of 1992 his interest in the minimalistic expression of Japanese arts took him to
Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
,
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
, to study various dance genres. Saarinen studied traditional Japanese Kabuki theatre at the famous Fujima School of Tokyo, specializing in ''
onnagata , also , are male actors who play female roles in kabuki theatre. It originated in 1629 after women were banned from performing in kabuki performances. There are many specific techniques that actors must learn to master the role of ''onnagata'' ...
'' (female) roles. Kabuki schools do not usually accept foreign students, but Saarinen got special permission from his teacher Yoko Fujima after giving him a sample display of his abilities. Saarinen studied Butoh dance – a dance form born in Japan after World War Two and originating in the sub-conscious – under the guidance of the great Japanese Butoh artist
Kazuo Ohno was a Japanese dancer who became a guru and inspirational figure in the dance form known as Butoh. He is the author of several books on Butoh, including ''The Palace Soars through the Sky'', ''Dessin'', ''Words of Workshop'', and ''Food for th ...
in his house in
Yokohama is the List of cities in Japan, second-largest city in Japan by population as well as by area, and the country's most populous Municipalities of Japan, municipality. It is the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a popu ...
. While in Japan, Saarinen also trained in
aikido Aikido ( , , , ) is a gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art which is split into many different styles including Iwama Ryu, Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shuren Kai, Shodokan Aikido, Yoshinkan, Renshinkai, Aikikai, and Ki Aikido. Aikido is now practic ...
. In addition to Kazuo Ohno and other influences from Asia, Saarinen often mentions Carolyn Carlson, Tommi Kitti, Marjo Kuusela and
Jorma Uotinen Jorma Leo Kalevi Uotinen (born 28 June 1950 in Pori) is a Finnish dancer, singer and choreographer. As a dancer and choreographer, Uotinen has worked both in many dance groups, both in and outside of Finland, since 1970. He has received many Fin ...
as important artistic role models.


Years as a freelancer

Upon his return to Finland from Asia in 1993, Saarinen started working as a freelancer. Most of his time was spent on tours with various dance groups in Germany, Italy, the US, and elsewhere, as part of
Daniel Ezralow Daniel Ezralow (born 22 September 1956) is an artistic director, choreographer, dancer, writer, and performer. He is known for his work in theater, film, opera, and television. His approach, style of physical expression, freedom of spirit and ar ...
's group and, together with Ismael Ivo and Mara Borba, in the triumphant production of Francis Bacon directed by Johann Kresnik. Saarinen performed as a freelance dancer in designer
Issey Miyake was a Japanese fashion designer. He was known for his technology-driven clothing designs, exhibitions and fragrances, such as '' L'eau d'Issey'', which became his best-known product. Early life and education Miyake was born on 22 April 1938 i ...
's fashion shows in Paris in 1993-1995.Räsänen, Auli: Tero Saarisella on näytönpaikka. ''Helsingin Sanomat'', 25.4.1998. Curriculum Vitae
''Tero Saarinen Company''
He was a visiting soloist with Teatro Comunale di Firenze in its production of ''Aida'' in 1994. The conductor was Zubin Mehta, and the production toured Italy and Japan. During his time as a freelancer Saarinen created choreographies for several dance groups. His first choreography after returning from Asia was ''Vajonneet'', premiered at the Finnish National Opera on 6 May 1993. ''Hurmaa 1'', created for the Tampere-based dance theatre MD Mobita Dansco in the fall of 1993, launched his still ongoing close cooperation with lighting designer
Mikki Kunttu Mikki Kunttu (born 1971) is a Finnish lighting and set designer. Kunttu has worked mainly in the field of dance, but also theatre, popular music and opera, as well as television and industrial arts. At the age of 18 Kunttu began designing lighting ...
. ''Wanha'', which Saarinen created for himself and Kenneth Kvarnström, received its premiered as a licensed work for the 1994 Kuopio Dance Festival. Saarinen also created ''Lifewheel'' (1994) for PDC, as well as ''Lelulaatikko'' (1995) for
Tampere Hall The Tampere Hall (; ) is the largest congress centre in the Nordic countries, located in the southern edge of Sorsapuisto, in the centre of Tampere, Finland. It was inaugurated on September 29, 1990. Opposite of the Tampere Hall is the main bui ...
and ''Sirkus Bohemia'' (1995) for the Kuopio Dance Festival.Saarinen, Tero
Tanka - the Finnish Dance Database.
''Wanha'' started Saarinen on the road to a career as an internationally acclaimed choreographer. After seeing it,
Ohad Naharin Ohad Naharin (; born 1952) is an Israeli choreographer, contemporary dancer, and creator and teacher of a unique system/language/pedagogy of dance called Gaga. He served as artistic director of Batsheva Dance Company from 1990; he stepped down i ...
, the director of
Batsheva Dance Company The Batsheva Dance Company (Hebrew: להקת בת שבע) is a renowned dance company based in Tel Aviv, Israel. It was founded by Martha Graham and Baroness Batsheva de Rothschild in 1964. Its inception was inspired by Israel's growing inter ...
, commissioned a work for his Israel-based group. Saarinen's choreography ''Flock'' premiered in Tel Aviv in late December 1994.


Tero Saarinen Company Tero Saarinen Company is a dance group led by Finnish dance artist and choreographer Tero Saarinen, which he founded in 1996. In Helsinki the group is the programme partner of Dance House Helsinki, where the company presents not only Tero Saar ...

Saarinen wanted to work on a more permanent basis with inspired artists who shared his values. In the fall of 1995 he assembled his own dance group, called Tero Saarinen & Company Toothpick. Alongside Saarinen, the founding members were his colleagues Henrikki Heikkilä from the Finnish National Ballet, Yuval Pick from the
Batsheva Dance Company The Batsheva Dance Company (Hebrew: להקת בת שבע) is a renowned dance company based in Tel Aviv, Israel. It was founded by Martha Graham and Baroness Batsheva de Rothschild in 1964. Its inception was inspired by Israel's growing inter ...
in Israel, and lighting designer
Mikki Kunttu Mikki Kunttu (born 1971) is a Finnish lighting and set designer. Kunttu has worked mainly in the field of dance, but also theatre, popular music and opera, as well as television and industrial arts. At the age of 18 Kunttu began designing lighting ...
. Company Toothpick was jokingly named in memory of the matchstick factory in
Pori Pori (; ; ) is a city in Finland and the regional capital of Satakunta. It is located on the west coast of the country, on the Gulf of Bothnia. The population of Pori is approximately , while the Pori sub-region, sub-region has a population of a ...
, where Saarinen was born. The group's first piece, ''Westward Ho!''
''Tero Saarinen Company''
premiered at
Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...
's Dansens Hus on 18 February 1996. In 1997 an invitation was received to perform piece at the first Aerowaves platform held in
The Place The Place may refer to: * The Place (London) The Place is a dance and performance centre in Duke's Road near Euston in the London Borough of Camden. It is the home of London Contemporary Dance School and the Robin Howard Dance Theatre, and forme ...
Theatre in London. The performance was to be Saarinen's international breakthrough as a choreographer, and the group began receiving invitations from all over Europe. In 2000, Company Toothpick acquired an office in the
Alexander Theatre The Alexander Theatre (; ) is a Finnish theatre in Helsinki at Bulevardi 23–27 in the neighborhood of Kamppi. History In the summer of 1875, then Governor-General of Grand Duchy of Finland (1866-1881) Count Nikolay Adlerberg (of Swedish noble ...
in Helsinki. In 2001 the group took on its first full-time employee, when its current Managing Director Iiris Autio began working as Saarinen's manager and the group's producer. In 2002 the group changed its name to
Tero Saarinen Company Tero Saarinen Company is a dance group led by Finnish dance artist and choreographer Tero Saarinen, which he founded in 1996. In Helsinki the group is the programme partner of Dance House Helsinki, where the company presents not only Tero Saar ...
, and in 2004 it became eligible for regular state subsidy under the Finnish Theatre and Orchestra Act, and began receiving operational funding from both the State and the City of Helsinki. Nowadays Tero Saarinen Company is considered one of Finland's leading cultural exports. The company's own works are created as international co-productions, and include many of Saarinen's best known choreographies. Tero Saarinen's richly original choreographic style is characterized by his distinctive movement language and multidimensional artistry - expressive dancers, live music, and striking visuals.Horsley, Francesca

nro. 12, 2008. Danz Quarterly.
The group has performed in nearly 40 countries, and an international teaching programme has been a part of its operations since its foundation. Saarinen has produced 46 original works altogether, many of them for other dance groups. The
Nederlands Dans Theater Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT; literal translation Netherlands Dance Theatre) is a Dutch contemporary dance dance company, company. NDT is headquartered at the ''Amare'' building in The Hague. NDT also performs at other venues in the Netherlands ...
(NDT1), the French ballets of
Lyon Lyon (Franco-Provençal: ''Liyon'') is a city in France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of the French Alps, southeast of Paris, north of Marseille, southwest of Geneva, Switzerland, north ...
, Ballet National de Marseille, Marseille and
Lorraine Lorraine, also , ; ; Lorrain: ''Louréne''; Lorraine Franconian: ''Lottringe''; ; ; is a cultural and historical region in Eastern France, now located in the administrative region of Grand Est. Its name stems from the medieval kingdom of ...
, the Portuguese Ballet Gulbenkian, the Israeli
Batsheva Dance Company The Batsheva Dance Company (Hebrew: להקת בת שבע) is a renowned dance company based in Tel Aviv, Israel. It was founded by Martha Graham and Baroness Batsheva de Rothschild in 1964. Its inception was inspired by Israel's growing inter ...
, the Swedish Gothenburg Opera Ballet,
Finnish National Ballet Finnish National Ballet (Suomen Kansallisbaletti) is a professional ballet company at the Finnish National Opera, in Helsinki, Finland. The company was founded in 1922 and it currently employs 73 dancers. It is the only Finnish company that regular ...
and others have featured Saarinen's works in their repertoires. In addition to choreographing, Saarinen has continued his career as an international soloist. Among his most praised performances is ''HUNT'',Hunt
''Tero Saarinen Company''
a solo that Saarinen had performed 174 times and in 32 countries by the end of 2013.Hunt press
''Tero Saarinen Company''
Another of his solo career highlights has been Carolyn Carlson's decision to pass on her famous full length piece ''Blue Lady'' to Saarinen. The re-interpretation, ''Blue Lady (Revisited)'', first premiered in 2008 at the Biennale de la danse de Lyon, and has been an international success.


Movement technique

Saarinen is known as a poetic interpreter of reality. As a choreographer he has been able to renew the movement language of dance and create a unique vocabulary and style of his own, shifting between beauty and the grotesque. His movement language is based on a movement technique that he developed himself, drawing influences from
Butoh is a form of Japanese dance theatre that encompasses a diverse range of activities, techniques and motivations for dance, performance, or movement. Following World War II, butoh arose in 1959 through collaborations between its two key founder ...
,
ballet Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...
, Western modern dance, as well as
martial arts Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; ...
. The use of the eyes and hands, which are an important feature of his mode of expression. The teaching of the technique for Saarinen's movement language concentrates on awakening the senses in the feet, general alertness and focusing, as well as activating the nerve endings, and acknowledging and using the weight of the body. The aim is to maximize the dancers’ capacity to use balance and off balance. The teaching highlights the internalization of each movement and the dancer's personal interpretation, assisted by mental visualization techniques.
''Tero Saarinen Company''
Alongside Saarinen, the Head of Artistic Development Sini Länsivuori is in charge of developing the company's teaching operations.


Choreographic portfolio


Best known works

Tero Saarinen has choreographed 46 original works, 17 of them for his own group.
Tero Saarinen Company Tero Saarinen Company is a dance group led by Finnish dance artist and choreographer Tero Saarinen, which he founded in 1996. In Helsinki the group is the programme partner of Dance House Helsinki, where the company presents not only Tero Saar ...
's key works include the company's breakthrough piece ''Westward Ho!'' (1996), Saarinen's Stravinsky works ''Petrushka'' (2001) and ''HUNT'' (2002), and the Shakers, Shaker inspired ''Borrowed Light'' (2004), "
Morphed
'" (2014) set to the music of
Esa-Pekka Salonen Esa-Pekka Salonen (; born 30 June 1958) is a Finnish conducting, conductor and composer. He is the music director of the San Francisco Symphony and conductor laureate of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra in London and the Sw ...
and
''Kullervo''
, a large-scale co-production with The Finnish National Opera and
Ballet Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...
featuring the music of
Jean Sibelius Jean Sibelius (; ; born Johan Julius Christian Sibelius; 8 December 186520 September 1957) was a Finnish composer of the late Romantic music, Romantic and 20th-century classical music, early modern periods. He is widely regarded as his countr ...
. The solo piece ''HUNT'' (2002), a collaboration with multimedia Artist
Marita Liulia Marita Liulia (born 27 October 1957 in Perho, Finland) is a visual artist working primarily in interactive multimedia. Her debut CD-ROM ''Maire'' (1994) was among the first works of art published in this format in the world. Her production inclu ...
, has attracted exceptional international attention. Saarinen performed the piece 174 times in 83 cities and 32 countries, in Asia, Africa, South and North America and Europe, and it has been dubbed one of the most significant choreographies made for Stravinsky's ''The Rite of Spring''.Tero Saarisen Hunt-koreografia kovassa seurassa Arte-kanavalla. ''Helsingin Sanomat''. 18.12.2005. Tero Saarinen ceased performing ''HUNT'' in 2013, after the centennial of ''The Rite of Spring''. ''Borrowed Light'', performed at dozens of leading venues in Europe, Oceania and North America since its creation in 2004, has also attracted significant critical acclaim in the international media. For instance,
The Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture publication based in Greenwich Village, New York City, known for being the country's first Alternative newspaper, alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf (publisher), Dan Wolf, ...
in the USA listed it as one of The Decade's Best Dance Performances. Of the choreographies that Saarinen has created for other groups, some of the best known are ''Gaspard'' (1996), premiered by the Lyon Opera Ballet, ''Transfigured Night'' (2000), commissioned by the Gothenburg ballet, and the large scale work ''Mariage'' (2007), commissioned by the ballet of Lorraine and the opera of Nancy, France. This last work, set to Igor Stravinsky's composition ''Les Noces'', reinforced Saarinen's reputation as an important Stravinsky interpreter of our time.


Collaborators

Saarinen aspires to create total artworks:Kaufman, Sarah
Tero Saarinen Company: Dancing with Light at the Kennedy Center
13.3.2013. The Washington Post.
in addition to the choreography and interpretation, music and visual presentation are important components in his works. Among Saarinen's trusted collaborators are Lighting Designer
Mikki Kunttu Mikki Kunttu (born 1971) is a Finnish lighting and set designer. Kunttu has worked mainly in the field of dance, but also theatre, popular music and opera, as well as television and industrial arts. At the age of 18 Kunttu began designing lighting ...
and costume Designer Erika Turunen. Saarinen makes use of live music in many of his works. His musical collaborators include
The Boston Camerata The Boston Camerata is an early music ensemble based in Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1954 by Narcissa Williamson, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, as an adjunct to that museum's musical instrument collection. The Camerata incorpora ...
, Ensemble InterContemporain, the accordionist duo
James Crabb James Crabb (born 1967) is a Scottish classical accordion player. Crabb was born in Dundee. He was given his first accordion at age 4 by his accordion-playing father. He studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen with classic ...
and Geir Draugsvoll, the chamber orchestra
Avanti! ''Avanti!'' (; Italian interjection – 'come in!') is a 1972 comedy film produced and directed by Billy Wilder, and starring Jack Lemmon and Juliet Mills. The screenplay by Wilder and I. A. L. Diamond is based on Samuel A. Taylor's pla ...
, composer-musician Jarmo Saari and Finnish accordionist
Kimmo Pohjonen Kimmo Pohjonen (born August 16, 1964) is a Finnish accordionist who is known for his avant-garde and experimental work with his custom-made electrified and modified instrument. He has released nine albums of his work and has toured Europe extens ...
. Saarinen has created numerous works for other dance groups. The Dutch
Nederlands Dans Theater Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT; literal translation Netherlands Dance Theatre) is a Dutch contemporary dance dance company, company. NDT is headquartered at the ''Amare'' building in The Hague. NDT also performs at other venues in the Netherlands ...
(NDT1), the French ballets of
Lyon Lyon (Franco-Provençal: ''Liyon'') is a city in France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of the French Alps, southeast of Paris, north of Marseille, southwest of Geneva, Switzerland, north ...
, Ballet National de Marseille, Marseille and
Lorraine Lorraine, also , ; ; Lorrain: ''Louréne''; Lorraine Franconian: ''Lottringe''; ; ; is a cultural and historical region in Eastern France, now located in the administrative region of Grand Est. Its name stems from the medieval kingdom of ...
, the Portuguese Ballet Gulbekian, the Israeli
Batsheva Dance Company The Batsheva Dance Company (Hebrew: להקת בת שבע) is a renowned dance company based in Tel Aviv, Israel. It was founded by Martha Graham and Baroness Batsheva de Rothschild in 1964. Its inception was inspired by Israel's growing inter ...
, the Swedish Gothenburg opera Ballet, the
Finnish National Ballet Finnish National Ballet (Suomen Kansallisbaletti) is a professional ballet company at the Finnish National Opera, in Helsinki, Finland. The company was founded in 1922 and it currently employs 73 dancers. It is the only Finnish company that regular ...
, and others have featured Saarinen's works in their repertoires.


Premieres


Grants and prizes

Saarinen has received numerous acknowledgements of his work as an artist. In 2001 he was awarded the Finland Prize and, in 2005 the Pro Finlandia medal – the most prestigious award given to artists in Finland. Saarinen was awarded the international Movimientos Dance Prize for Best Male Performer in Germany in 2004. In June 2004, he was honoured with the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Ministry of Culture in France. Saarinen received a 6-month grant from the Arts Council of Finland in 1987, a 3-year grant in 1996, and a 5-year grant in 1996 and 2004. At the beginning of his career as a choreographer he was awarded numerous other scholarships and grants, including from the Väinö Tanner Foundation, Antti and Jenni Wihuri Foundation, and the Finnish Cultural Foundation. *First prize in the contemporary dance category at the third Concours International de Danse de Paris in 1988 *Silver medal, contemporary choreography, ITI Ballet Competition, Helsinki, 1991 *Phillip Morris Ballet Flower award, 1993 *Jury award for interpretation in Les Nuits de la Danse d’Istres competition in France, 1996 *Finland prize, 2001 *Culture Prize, City of Helsinki, 2002 *International Movimientos Dance Prize, Best male performer, Germany 2004 *Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, France 2004 *Pro Finlandia, 2005 *The Finnish Cultural Foundation, award for artistic achievements, 2008 *Jean Sibelius commemorative coin, 2015


References


See also


Official website, Tero Saarinen Company

Tero Saarinen in Tanka - the Finnish Dance Database.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saarinen, Tero Contemporary dancers Modern dancers Finnish male ballet dancers Living people 1964 births 20th-century Finnish musicians 20th-century dancers 21st-century Finnish musicians 21st-century dancers