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Best male
dancer: Tero Saarinen
Affectionately known as the Dancing Fin, Tero Saarinen founded
his own company in 1996, as a canvas for his own distinctive
and considered collaborative work.
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| Tero Saarinen |
Trained
as a classical dancer, Tero started out with the Finnish National
Ballet, but soon relocated to Kathmandu to study Nepalese
dance.
Techniques
learnt working with senior masters of far eastern dance have
left a lasting influence in Tero's choreography.
Tero
Saarinen is one of a few contemporary dancers who have put
the greatest possible distance between themselves and the
foundations of their original training, creating a recognised
personal body language.
As
part of the International Movimentos Dance Gala 2004, Tero
performed his infamous, self-created solo, 'Hunt'; a risqué
take on Stravinsky's Rite of Spring.
Technically
superlative, Hunt is further illuminated by creative lighting
genius, Marita Liulia. A refined, imaginative work, Hunt is
a perfect vehicle for Tero's art and body-mastery.
Mythical, majestic, erotically charged and organic. Hunt is
truly wonderful.
Best
female dancer: Alina Cojucara
Romanian
Alina Cojucara has found a very personal way to combine the
best traditions of her Russian training with the style of
the English school she currently calls home.
At
age 23, Alina has risen through the ranks of the Royal Ballet
to become one of the company's youngest principal ballerinas.
Most
promising new dancer (I):
Mourad Merzouki
This
French Algerian break-dancing, high-flying, hip-hop wunderkind
is a fitting example of Movimentos' vision of the diversity
and dynamism of international dance.
Mourad
and his company Kafig are pushing the boundaries in a developing
a unique dance genre.
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| Mourad Merzouki |
Unconventional
in both conception and delivery, Mourad started out performing
in Lyon's renowned Ecole de Cirque (Circus School).
Today,
Kafig comprises of peers and prodigies of similar social and
ethnic backgrounds.
Kafig's
repertoire is a synthesis of black American street dance and
rap drawing influence and inspiration from North African roots,
capoeira, gymnastics, Andalusian choreography and of course,
circus.
Here
in the UK, Mourad is quickly developing an enthusiastic following
after working with fellow B-Boy extraordinaire, Benji Reid.
Mourad
Merzouki may well be one of the first pop-idols of
dance.
Most
promising new dancer (II):
Akram Khan
Born
in Balham, London in 1974, Akram Khan is a decided individualist
who brings a new dimension to dance by amalgamating traditional
Indian and contemporary dance.
Akram,
like many young black people living in the UK, has very personal
and spiritual beliefs surrounding ethnicity and nationality.
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| Akram Khan |
Aged
seven and a keen Michael Jackson fan, Akram's mother enrolled
him in Kathak lessons (the traditional Indian dance form of
meticulously executed hand and arm movements). He was noticed
by Kathak master Sri Pratap Pawar, who became, and is still,
his guru.
From
the age of 14 he toured in Peter Brook's version of the Mahabharata
and remains heavily influenced by the experimental director.
In
2003, Akram found international acclaim with Kaash, his first
full-scale piece as a choreographer, which features music
by Nitin Sawhney and a set by Anish Kapoor.
Commendation by the International Movimentos Dance Awards
can only highlight his promising future.
Best
choreography: Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
Further
reflecting the cultural and artistic diversity of Movimentos,
this prestigious award goes to 27 year old Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui;
a Belgian choreographer of Moroccan descent.
Straddling
genres and styles whilst confronting the ancient and the new,
Sidi questions present day life in a world haunted by global
terrorism and war, amongst other issues.
Playfully
described as 'a young lad with the sleek movements of a snake
and the fanaticism of a flagellant'; his work with Les Ballets
C de la B saw him honoured with the Nijinsky Award of the
Monaco Dance Forum in 2002.
Lifetime
achievement award: Maurice Bejart
In
recognition of his outstanding career as a choreographer,
leader of various companies, founder of the Mudra Institute
and of his role as a tireless advocate for ballet, the jury
of the International Movimentos Dance Award honours Maurice
Bejart for a lifetime's achievement.
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| Maurice Bejart |
Even
now, in his mid 60s, Maurice will always be the enfant terrible
of the ballet world. He's also one of the most creative, innovative
and equally controversial and convivial personalities.
Not
enough is said of his great work with young people at his
school of dance.
Bejart
is a modern day philanthropist who encourages and nurtures
new talent, irrespective of class, race or status.
To
celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Tokyo Ballet, Bejart
awarded exclusive right to his legendary masterpieces, Le
Sacre du Printemps, L'Oiseau de Feu and Bolereo. Excerpts
of which provided the backdrop for this years Movimentos Festival
Gala.
Bejart
is the first and last pioneer of a genre of dance that searches
relentlessly for new horizons, and which carries within itself
a consciousness of its unique place in history.
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