Queer Contemporary Ballet

Attitude

Tomi Paasonen

Attitude
© Jenkins & Jenkins

With „Attitude“, Tomi Paasonen returns to ballet and returns to what used to be his dance focus for 30 years. It is time to examine processes, forms and techniques from his choreographic practice in the 1990s from today's perspective.

„Attitude“ is a contemporary ballet etude created for two Berlin-based queer ballet dancers dancing on pointe and a drag performer: The American-born dancer Kai Braithwaite (Komische Oper, Oper am Rhein, Dance Theater of Harlem) and Canadian Ted Littlemore (Ne.Sans Dance Company, Joshua Beamish, The Vancouver Opera) and the brilliant Scottish drag performer Gieza Poke. Attitude is a study of what happens when you mix the rigorous academic vocabulary of classical ballet and pointe dance with contemporary choreographic and dramaturgical impulses. It is an experiment that uses technical skill and virtuosity for new critical perspectives on the classical form. Fusing the dancers' autobiographical narratives with pop culture and queer sensibilities, it aims to expand the uses of the pointe shoe, which becomes the fuel for movement and choreography.

Choreography, direction, soundtrack, costumes: Tomi Paasonen
Dance: Kai Braithwaite, Ted Littlemore , Gieza Poke
Lightdesign: Bryan Schall

Language: English
Duration: 60 min

A production by Tomi Paasonen in co-production with DOCK ART, funded by the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion.