Title

Dance Theatre Zick

„You And Me“

dance production for families

choreography by Ina Stockem

premiere at June 19^th, 2010 in Museum Miia-Milla-Manda

Kaja Lindal. Photo by Rünno Lahesoo                                                                                                            

Choreographer Ina Stockem

Ina Stockem is a German born choreographer and dancer. She has been living in Amsterdam for over ten years where she has been following modern dance education. She has studied physical theatre and choreography. She improved her theatrical skills in Art in Society (KIS), which is an organization where theatrical tools adapt towards the needs and problems of very different target groups like for example teenagers, managers and disabled persons.

Since 1999 she has been working in different countries in Europe as a dancer, choreographer and cultural investor via her foundation People on The Move (PoTM). As an artist and a theatre maker she uses and includes in her works also video, dance and music. Her work has been performed in variety of places. Besides theaters and festivals, her work is performed at private parties, clubs, retirement homes, etc and is also used in workshops and trainings organized by different organizations and institutions.

Estonian audience is familiar with Ina’s renowned performance BodyLounge, where the audience is taken on a dance theatre journey blindfolded. Playing with limits between art and life has become Ina’s trademark.

Ina Stockem’s works include „Dazzleville“ (2010), “Virtual Chef” (2008), „VoelHoek“ (2008), „Darkroom Dance“ (2008), „BodyLounge“ (2008), “Playing from the heart”, “LefLounge”, “GenderGame”, “I am [what] I am”, “D.E.L.I.l.A.H” , “La vie n’est pas un chocolat” (all 2003-2007) etc.

                                                                                              

Company                                                                                               Kaja Lindal, Jaan Ulst. Photo by Rünno Lahesoo

Since its creation, Dance Theatre Zick has brought on stage nine dance productions from five different choreographers- among others Ina Stockem’s “You and Me”, Jenni Kivelä’s “Ballroom for Beginners” and Dmitri Harchenko’s “Piaf”. Dance Theatre Zick’s productions are characteristically audience friendly and filled with warm humor. To bring contemporary dance closer to the audience, the productions oftentimes comprise text and are performed in different environments besides the traditional theatre stage. Almost all the far-famed Estonian contemporary dance artists have performed in the company’s productions, i.e Kaja Lindal, Endro Roosimäe, et al.

Dance Theatre Zick was created in 2005, when Anu Ruusmaa’s dance performance “Solitude – It Does Not Matter at All” was brought on stage in Theatre NO99. From then on Dance Theatre Zick has staged several theatrical and movement based contemporary dance performances and become a persistently active dance theatre with a stable core group. From 2006 to 2008 the theatre’s house choreographer was Dmitri Harchenko and under his direction five performances were staged, most known of which are “Piaf” and “Undine”. Through the 2009/2010 season Dance Theatre Zick collaborated with three choreographers. Season saw the premiere of Jaan Ulst’s „Forgotten Poetry“, Jenni Kivelä’s „Ballroom for Beginners“ and Ina Stockem’s “You and Me”.

The aim of Dance Theatre Zick is to bring together dance artists who think alike and as a result of that cooperation create dance performances that fill the evening.

                                                                                                                Kaja Lindal. Photo by Rünno Lahesoo

Kaja Lindal is a freelance dancer and choreographer. She graduated from Tallinn Ballet School and later from Tallinn University, where she studied choreography. She worked as a ballet artist in theatre Vanemuine from 1986 to 2003. Ms Lindal has danced major roles in dance performances by Marjo Kuusela, Mare Tomminga, Anu Ruusmaa, Rachid Tika, Dmitri Harchenko and others.

In 2004 Ms Lindal received the Philip Morris Breakthrough of the Year Award  for her work “Kiri maalt”. One of her most notable works is “Tallinn-Aegviidu” (2006), created in co-operation with Kaspar Aus. Under the trademark „InsightOut Company“ she has co-operated with choreographer Ms Mari Mägi. In collaboration with Ms Mari Mägi dance performances „Opus Tempus“ (2009) and „Two Women in the Kitchen, Not to Mention the Banana“ (2010) have been brought on stage. Ms Lindal has participated actively in Dance Theatre Zick projects. She danced in „Forgotten Poetry“ (2009) by Jaan Ulst and in „Ballroom for Beginners“ (2010) by Jenni Kivelä. Ms Lindal has also choreographed animated films and currently she is among other things engaged with teaching how to move on stage.

Raido Bergstein graduated from Viljandi Cultural Academy, where he mastered the profession of a dance teacher in 2004. During his studies and a while after the graduation Mr Bergstein danced in musicals “La Cage aux Folles”, “Les Miserables”, “Miss Saigon”, “Oliver!”, “Georg” and “Cinderella” and worked in musicals „Cats“ and „Blues Brothers“ as director Dmitri Harchenko’s assistant. After graduation he was employed by the Estonian Dance Agency and performed in the showdance programs on the cruiseships sailing the Baltic Sea. Today Mr Bergstein dances in “AQ”- a showdance group created by Mr Mait Agu in the early 90-s and in Uppsar- a folkdance group by the Tallinn Dance Academy.

In winter of 2001, through Mr Bergstein’s initiative, the Zick Studio began its work. Already on the first year the aim was to bring on stage dance productions performed by amateur dancers. In a row productions „Squirrel“, „Animal Farm“, et al were performed. After being engaged in performing for four years, Dance Theatre Zick’s first production- choreographer Anu Ruusmaa’s „Solitude – it does Not Matter at All“ premiered in Theatre NO99. This marked the beginning of a professional dance theatre. Through the years Mr Betrgstein has been enganged in Dance Theatre Zick both as a dancer (among others Dmitri Harchenko’s „Undine“, „Tour Guide. Attention: Flexible“, „Hoffmann – Promenade“) and a producer (among others Dmitri Harchenko’s „Krabat“ and „Piaf“).  Today Mr Bergstein is member of the board and the art director of Dance Theatre Zick.

For a long time Mr Bergstein worked as a dance teacher in Rahumäe Primary School. He has given dance classes also in ETA Dance School, Pärnu WAF Dance School, etc. Today one can attend his dance classes in Zick Studio and in Elamusmuuseum Dance Studio in Museum Miia-Milla-Manda.

Mr Bergstein has also worked as a producer in Sõltumatu Tantsu Ühendus- an agency for Estonian dance artists, choreographers and dance organizations. In autumn 2010 Mr Bergstein engaged in Master’s studies in cultural management in Estonian Music- and Theatre Academy.        

Kaja Lindal, Jaan Ulst. Photo by Rünno Lahesoo

About the  performance

Dance performance “You And Me” is intended for everyone from age 4. Meant for small as well as for big children, even for grown-ups. And not just meant, but kindly recommended- as who wouldn’t want to make new friends!

The creation of this performance began when Dutch choreographer Ina Stockem started to figure with her friends what friendship is. This performance is a story about you and me and everyone we know. Dance performance was created in association with Museum Miia-Milla-Manda- a wonderful museum for children. During the performance together with two dancers the audience discovers which are the emotions necessary to create and keep friendship, watches dance and dances themselves.

… Spider has a, spider has a friend

He is not, he is not lonely

Spider has a, spider has a friend
She’s a small, she’s a small moose
Moose is wearing, moose is wearing a dress
Moose is a little, a little bit too naughty…

As naughty as the Moose in the song by Jaan Tätte are the dancers in “You and Me”. Right after they wake up in the morning they start fooling around. They toss things and each other, they bark, oink and cackle, they laugh and pat and include children in their playful games.

The aim of the project is to introduce modern dance theatre to children via two dancers dancing modern dance and to make it possible for children to experience modern dance by themselves by dancing along. Children get to know themselves and others through their body motion. They playfully  learn to express their feelings with their own body and also to express their thoughts about friendship in moving pictures.

The performance makes children feel that dance theatre, this performance is about them. Theatre is a mirror of reality.  Dance theatre is body language.

Photo by Rünno Lahesoo