Amalgam

This is a 2022 film version of the contemporary circus piece Amalgam by Onni Toivonen, Wilma Seppälä and Konsta Leinonen. The live piece premiered in 2019. During the pandemic 3 circus pieces were chosen to be filmatized and presented to Finnish 8th graders as a part of the Taidetestaajat ("Art Testers") -initiative. (https://arviot.taidetestaajat.fi)

Description:

Amalgam is a contemporary circus performance about the collision of juggling, dance and music. What are the possibilities and limits found at the crossroads of these artforms? Accompanied by live music, the performers conjure images both humorous and wild, contemplative and beautiful. Through scenes like the 8-limb club-knot, the ever spinning plank and the balance searching feather dance, Amalgam takes the audience on a journey towards something greater than it's parts.

Direction and performance: Wilma Seppälä, Onni Toivonen and Konsta Leinonen
Outside eye: Olli Vuorinen (Company Nuua)
Light design: Jaakko Sirainen

Co-production: Company Nuua

Video production: Double Deuce Productions
Filming, direction, edit: Kalle Jurvelin
Filming, edit: Samu Saukko
Filming assistant: Eetu Kilpelä
Color grading: Niko Raappana

Juggling balls: Raili Määttänen

Production: Sorin Sirkus
Executive producer: Lari Aaltonen
Production assistant: Eveliina Saxman
Stage master: Jouni Kivimäki
Stage hand: Benjamin Danemann
Light tech: Eero Auvinen and Ville Finnilä

Supported by: Arts Promotion Centre Pirkanmaa (Taike), Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, Samuel Huber Arts Foundation, Sorin Sirkus, Circus Ruska Festival, Sirkus Faktori, Silence Residency, Näyttämö Theater.


Some notes from Onni:

This is the first longer piece where I was a director, and one part of me is insecure of every artistic choice we made. On the other hand, I really think Amalgam has got something going for it and I think we succesfully achieved our initial goal: combining juggling and dance in a coherent, good, personal way! We are no longer performing it, but it is really cool that there is such a high quality filmatisation available and I hope it can inspire others to explore dance and juggling. I really wish there were more full-length shows online for me to analyze, pick apart and enjoy, but they are rather hard to find. I might as well share this now that I have the opportunity.

Huge special thanks to Sorin Sirkus, Double Deuce, grandma and Olli!