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 collaboration between the Korean dance company Sungsoo Ahn Pick-Up Group and the Finnish contemporary circus company WHS. The two companies met through the Korea-Finland Connection networking project. Double Exposure premiered in Helsinki Festival in August and in SIDance Festival in Seoul in October 2012.
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.
Link to the website
Working group and performers
Direction: Sungsoo Ahn & Ville Walo
Choreography: Sungsoo Ahn
On stage: Juhee Lee, Sooin Park, Boram Kim, Kungmin Jang, Soyoung Choi, Ville Walo
Lighting design: Jere Mönkkönen
Set and costume design: Anne Jämsä
Sound design: Samuli Kosminen
Production: Sungsoo Ahn Pick-up Group & WHS
In collaboration with: Stoa, SIDance, KAMS, SASH, The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Finland
Premiere 18.8.2012 at Helsinki Festival
Korean premiere 13.10.2012 in SIDance
World premiere
18.08.2012 Stoa, Helsinki
Videos
Sungsoo Ahn Pick-up Group & WHS: Double Exposure from WHS on Vimeo.