Review: Softandhard

ROUGH MOVEMENT PLAY

In the latest performance of the Helsinki City Theatre’s dance group, even the audience will be out of breath. Softandhard by the Slovak-born young choreographer Anton Lachky, who lives in Belgium, stars an explosively fast movement that fills the Elsa stage to the brim, even though there are only six dancers. The heart rate and energy continue even when the dancer is still.
The starting point for the very physical, but not heavy and aggressive, but rather light and playful movement is both the dancers’ own personality and the movement of animals, especially horses and birds. Both are both herd animals and imitators of each other, and Lachky uses these qualities as building blocks for her choreography.


Dancers’ group energy

The performance alternates between short solos that others follow and join, running in a group, and various follow-the-leader games and games. The whole is like a grip on the fast-paced and carefree togetherness of a herd of children or animals, where exercise is the most important thing.
The dancers work well and balanced together, but the veterans of the group, Inka Tiitinen and Kai Lähdesmäki , stand out a little more, especially in their own solos, of which Tiitinen focuses on phenomenal mimicry and gestures and Lähdesmäki’s absolutely incredible rhythmic release of the upper body muscles. Jenni-Elina Lehto’s skilful and well-researched “horse-like” movement is also enchanting to watch.

Mikki Kunttu’s spotlight poles delimit an empty stage into a rectangular arena or pasture and also serve as set elements. Clearly changing lighting situations give rhythm to the performance and sometimes create a bit of a rock concert feeling with direct audience cannon.
The music composed for the work by the Frenchman Simon Thiérrée is very minimalist and impresses precisely with its constant understatement. However, it is not monotonous, but very alive in its layering and small changes.

Softandhard is a rough movement game, the content of which is the joy of movement and movement, as well as a good-natured time together. The wild energy charge of the performance is good in the dark in early winter.