Short address by Dr Lliane Loots, Artistic Director Flatfoot Dance Company at the opening of Portable Home - a collaboration with Finnish choreographer Virva Talonen and Flatfoot.
I begin by welcoming all of you tonight, with a special welcome to Eric Apelgren and Thato Oliphant from our eThekwini Metro (thank you both for the ongoing support you give to the arts in Durban), I welcome longtime friend and supporter of dance, Chantel Boulle from the USA consulate, and a welcome to Thando Pitso and Joalana Makepe from the Lesotho Consulate in Durban.
Flatfoot Dance Company in Portable Home - photo Val Adamson
Mostly a very very warm welcome to Finnish Ambassador Anne Lammila and her excellent team Jenni Kiilhoma and Jonna Pukkila (and of course Chef Jade - who created the Finnish for for the function).
I begin tonight quoting a Finnish author Tove Janssen who said;
A theatre is the most important sort of house in the world, because that’s where people are shown what they could be if they wanted, and what they’d like to be if they dared to, and what they really are.
As somebody who has spent my life loving this house we call a theatre, I welcome you tonight to this place of stories.
I stand here on behalf of FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY which has had the privilege of sharing this last month with Finnish choreographer Virva Talonen – who has brought a little bit of Finland into our loves (noni!) and who has offered us another sort of home – one of kindness, shared dance practice and the evolution of the beautiful work you will see tonight interestingly – and fortuitously - called PORTABLE HOME! She has also offered friendship and the impossible – and yet so obvious - a meeting of family from half a world away.
Flatfoot Dance Company in Portable Home - photo Val Adamson
I thank too the DUT Drama Studies programme for the home they have given us in this beautiful Courtyard Theatre, and especially to Clare Craighead for making us feel so welcome.
Finally, I also thank the Finnish Embassy in Pretoria for this INSPIRED cultural exchange project – and for making contemporary dance your focus. Thank you too for asking FLATFOOT to partner with you.
We have loved every moment of this work with Virva and of finding a new family for our shared (portable) house. Thank you Virva, for daring us to clean out old rooms and redecorate!
Portable Home has 2 more performances on 5 November at 230pm and 7pm at The Courtyard Theatre, DUT, Durban.
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