K. KVARNSTRöM & CO / HELSINKI DANCE COMPANY

BIOGRAPHIES

THEN
In 1965 Helsinki City Theatre was founded in its current form.
In 1973 Helsinki City Theatre appointed a dancemaster and six dancers on a one year contract. This year can be seen as the foundation of the Dance Company of Helsinki City Theatre.
In 1987 the Dance Company became an independet unit within the structure of Helsinki City Theatre.
In 2003 the name was changed to Helsinki Dance Company.

Most of the company’s artistic directors have been choreographers and have put their own mark on the company’s repertoir.

The artistic directors from 1982-2010:
Jorma Uotinen (1982-90), Carolyn Carlsson (1991-92), Marjo Kuusela (1992-96), Kenneth Kvarnström (1996-97), Ari Tenhula (2000-02), Nigel Charnock (2003-05), Ville Sormunen (2006-10).


NOW
Helsinki Dance Company (HDC ) and K. Kvarnström & Co is a three year (2010-13) project where the main goal is to create dance productions, mainly for the stage (of different sizes), but also in new medias, in new ways and in other places, as well.

We have a basic structure to work from:
6 dance contracts
2 technicians
1 producer
2 premieres a year

Many of the productions will be co-productions between K. Kvarnström & Co and HDC and made by the choreographer Kenneth Kvarnström.
We will also invite other choreographers to work with the company
We will also invite more dancers for some of the different productions/events/installations we will do.

The main goal is to always work with talent in different forms… the best dancers we can find (and those who want to work with us), wizards in light- and setdesign, creative costume/fashion designers, sound magicians and dedicated technicians…

Kenneth Kvarnström
Kenneth Kvarnström has been working in the field of dance since1990, mainly with his own company K. Kvarnström & Co. Touring in most European countries and also in Africa, Israel, Japan, Latin America and the US.
In 2003 Kenneth decided to stop choreographing for 6 years and become the director of the House of Dance in Stockholm, a guestperformance venue.
In 2008 he started his five-year plan working again as a choreographer with his own company and doing comission works for others. The same year he was appointed Professor of the Arts by the Finnish government.
From 2010 he will work as a house choreographer with Helsinki Dance Company creating new danceworks in co-production with his own company and HDC.

Studies at The University College of Dance, Stockholm 1983-84
Ballet academy professional school 1984-87
Founded his own company: K. Kvarnström & Co 1987
Professor in choreography at the University of Dance in Helsinki 1993-94
Artistic Director for the Helsinki City Theatre Dance Company 1996-97
Artistic & General Director for The House of Dance 2004-07
Freelance choreographer 2008-
Professor of the Arts (Finland) 2008-13
Housechoreograper for Helsinki Dance Company 2010-13

Major productions 1990-2010 by K.Kvarnström & Co:

1990 Exhibo
1991 ... that was all I wanted, so I stuck my finger in his eye...
1992 Voyeur
1993 Digger Dog
Carmen?!
neste by Helsinki City Theatre Dance Company
1994 Verienkeli by Finnish National Ballet
1995 .... and the angels began to scream.
XXX
1996 no-no, by Helsinki City Theatre Dance Company
1997 No3 by Helsinki City Theatre Dance Company
108 dB by Helsinki City Theatre Dance Company
1999 325,4 kg
2000 Splitvision
NaClH2O by Cullbergballet
2001 Fragile
2002 Feel my breath
2003 Blind Me
2008 no-no by Helsinki Dance Company (revival)
OreloB by Gothenburg Ballet
Destruction Song
2009 Hohto/Shine by Finnish National Ballet
Mercury by Sydney Dance Company
2010 XPSD co-production between K. Kvarnström & Co and Helsinki Dance Company
no-no by Skånes Dansteater

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