NEWS & EVENTS

EMILIA AHO & KATJA LUNDÉN:
FLAMENCO X 3
DANCE TRILOGY WITH LIVE MUSIC

Estados del yo - Ni contigo Ni sin ti - CL-ROM

Choreography: Rafaela Carrasco and Manuel Liñán
Dance: Emilia Aho and Katja Lundén
Composition: Juan Antonio Suárez “Cano”, Pablo Suárez and Sergio Martínez
Musicians:  Antonio Campos, singing; José Luis López, cello; Karo Sampela, percussions; Juan Antonio Suárez “Cano”, flamenco guitar; Pablo Suárez, piano
Lighting design: Ainu Palmu
Sound: Ilari Suonpää
Costumes: Ritva Rautavaara/Flamenco Shop Helsinki and José Tarriño; shoes: Begoña Cervera
Photos: Mervi Ahlroth


The flamenco trilogy by Rafaela Carrasco and Manuel Liñán is a rare homage to Finnish flamenco. The world-renowned choreographers created the pieces for Emilia Aho and Katja Lundén, two frontline flamenco dancers in the Nordic countries, whose technical prowess and open attitude to flamenco as a constantly renewable form of art gave free rein to Carrasco and Liñán. Carrasco’s Estados del yo and Liñán’s Ni contigo Ni sin ti culminate in CL-ROM, a work jointly created by both choreographers.

The works tell the story of two different women. The dancers seek themselves and one another, as well as their own personality and connection to the world. While the predominant style is flamenco, elements of contemporary dance, for example, are also present. The language of movement and different music styles lead from one ambience to another.

The music for the trilogy was composed by two of Spain’s leading flamenco musicians: guitarist Juan Antonio Suárez ”Cano” and pianist Pablo Suárez. They have both made an impact in many line-ups The compositions were worked on in close cooperation with the choreographers during the rehearsal process. As a result, the music and choreographies form a seamless, organic unity.

Rafaela Carrasco (b.1972, Sevilla) and Manuel Liñán (b.1980, Granada) are two of the most interesting flamenco choreographers and dancers today. In their work, they combine elements of other dance styles with the traditions of flamenco. Both have had their works performed around the world and have garnered several esteemed awards.

The dancers Katja Lundén and Emilia Aho are at the forefront of Finnish flamenco. Estados del yo (2008), Ni contigo Ni sin ti (2009) and CL-ROM (2010), created in cooperation with Carrasco and Liñán, are among the most significant flamenco works in Finland. Parts of the trilogy have been performed in Tampere, Jyväskylä, Espoo, Oulu and the Théâtre des Variétés in Monaco, among other places. The premiere of the entire trilogy with live music took place at the Savoy Theatre in Helsinki in February 2011.

Video in YouTube and Vimeo

Emotionally dazzling flamenco trilogy

Published on 13 February 2011 in the Culture section of Helsingin Sanomat, a Finnish daily.
JUSSI TOSSAVAINEN

Flamenco x 3. The 14th Helsinki Flamenco Festival, Savoy Theatre. Dance: Emilia Aho and Katja Lundén; choreography: Rafaela Carrasco and Manuel Liñan; musicians: Antonio Campos, Hector González, José Luis López, Karo Sampela and Juan Antonio Suárez.

Emilia Aho and Katja Lundén left the audience mesmerized with their CL-rom and other choreographies.

DANCE. The audience rose to a spontaneous standing ovation at the end of the flamenco trilogy performed by Emilia Aho and Katja Lundén. And for a very good reason. The performance offered impressive interpretation – subtly tuned, yet strongly expressed.

Getting Rafaela Carrasco and Manuel Liñán, two world-class flamenco stars, to tailor-make choreographies for these ultra-cool dancers is a great tribute to Finnish flamenco.

Carrasco’s Estados del yo premiered a few years ago, but has lost nothing of its charm since then. In it, the two dancers are like night and day in terms of expression. One may also see them as representing two sides of a single individual. The roles do, indeed, mix and merge at the end.

Traditional flamenco and contemporary dance are open-mindedly mixed in the choreography, as well as in the jazzy music accompanying it.

There was no attempt to show off or flaunt superb footwork typical of tourist flamenco. The focus was on expression and on conveying emotion. It’s been a while since I saw dance of this quality.

The atmosphere of Liñán’s Ni contigo ni sin ti is particularly sensitive and touching, as if offering consolation at the time of great sorrow. In turn, CL-rom, Carrasco’s and Liñán’s joint choreography contains surprising playfulness and warmth. It is positive and exuberant, with a breathtaking sense of joy flowing off the stage.

The piano and cello of the excellent band also bring new, fresh flavours to flamenco.

A brilliant show overall.



Translation by Tina Seidel

MEMORY TRACES -FESTIVAL, BERLIN

Due to the eruption of the Icelandic volcano all the performances at the Brotbrik, Berlin are canceled, but Brotfabrik is organising shows to replace canceled performances.

Estados del yo (dance)

Coreography by Rafaela Carrasco

The price awarded Spanish choreographer Rafaela Carrasco has made a wonderful new flamenco piece for the dancers of Alma Flamenca Emilia Aho and Katja Lundén. The music for Estados del yo has been composed by Pablo Suárez and Juan Antonio Suárez "Cano", innovative young composers and musicians who already have gained their place at the top of the Spanish flamenco scene.

Dancers: Emilia Aho and Katja Lundén

April 24th 2010 Brotfabrik, Berlin, Germany CANCELED

Estados del yo – Formen des Seins

Die Arbeit der weltberühmten Flamenco-Choreografin Rafaela Carroso schöpft aus Flamenco und zeitgenössischem Tanz und erzählt die Geschichte zweier Frauen. Verschiedene Musikstile und die Bewegungssprache machen aus der Suche dieser Frauen nach sich selbst und nach einander eine visuelle und vielschichtige Reise.

Mit Emilia Aho und Katja Lundén.

Sa 24.4.2010 19 Uhr Brotfabrik, Berlin ABGESAGT


More about Memory Traces

CAFÉ LOUHI: FLAMENCO * 2

Rafaela Carrasco: Estados del yo
Manuel Liñán: Ni contigo ni sin ti

March 12th 2010 at 7 PM
Espoo Cultural Centre, Louhi hall

First class Spanish flamenco musicians meet on stage the Finnish dancers Emilia Aho ja Katja Lundén in two choreographies. Estados del yo (Stages of being) is choreographed by one of the most appreciated contemporary flamenco choreographers Rafaela Carrasco and it tells the story of two women. The work Ni contigo ni sin ti (Not with nor without you) by Manuel Liñán deals with the questions about otherness, how to encounter another person sincerely and is it even possible. Liñán is one of the most interesting choreographers of his generation who combines with great skill in his work the tradition of flamenco with new influences. Both choreographies are influenced by contemporary dance.

Choreography: Rafaela Carrasco (Estados del yo), Manuel Liñán (Ni contigo ni sin ti)
Music: Pablo Suárez and Juan Antonio Suárez "Cano" (Estados del yo), Juan Antonio Suárez ”Cano”, Sergio Martínez (Ni contigo ni sin ti)
Dance: Emilia Aho and Katja Lundén
Musicians: Juan de Pura, José Luis López, Karo Sampela, Juan Antonio Suárez "Cano", Pablo Suárez
Lights: Juho Rahijärvi / Ainu Palmu
Sound: Ilari Suonpää

Organised by: Espoo Cultural Centre

STAR CHOREOGRAPHER MANUEL LIÑÁN HAS MADE A NEW PIECE FOR ALMA FLAMENCA

The Spanish star choreographer Manuel Liñán has made a new choreography for Emilia Aho and Katja Lundén. Ni contigo Ni sin ti  was premiered at the Tampere Flamenco Festival July 22th 2009 with Juan Antonio Suárez "Cano" (guitar), Antonio Campos (song), Pablo Suárez (piano), José Luis López (chelo) and Karo Sampela (percussions). Alma Flamenca has toured with the piece also in Helsinki, Oulu and Espoo.

Manuel Liñán (1980, Granada) is a price awarded Spanish dancer and choreographer. He is one of the most interesting choreographers of his generation who combines with great skill in his work the tradition of flamenco with new influences. Liñán has a unique at the same time masculine and femininely delicate style. Liñán has been performing around the world and he has made choreographies for other great dancers such as Rafaela Carrasco with whom he has been collaborating over many years.

ESTADOS DEL YO HAS BEEN WARMLY RECEIVED BY THE PUBLIC AND THE PRESS