The American dance maker invented a pulling stencil: \”Almost everyone knows what a fashion show is\”

Choreographer Trajal Harrell is inspired by voguing and fashion. Harrell’s work The Cologne Concert visits Helsinki.

-I was interested in how Vogue dancers had translated the movements of the models from the catwalks to dance into a business language.

Harrell became one of the most internationally followed choreographers with his work *Twenty Looks or Paris Is Burning at the Judson Church *. In it, the choreographer connected the postmodern dance of the 1960s and 1970s to Voguing.

-I think Voguing looked like a postmodern dance when I came across it at Ballroom Clubs.

Today, Harrell leads his own dance group, which has a home base in Zurich, Switzerland. The same line -up previously worked as a dance group at Zurich City Theater, which Harrell led. As the artistic leaders of the theater changed, Harrell decided to keep the group alive outside the theater.

Feedback encouraged me to continue.

– We had a big fanbase in the city theater and the people were really excited.

Everybody realizes what fashion show is

In addition to the distinctive business language, Trajal Harrell is known for the fashion he uses in his works. The choreographer believes that the fascination of it is the mother’s income.

Harrell grew up in Georgia in the African landowner family in the United States. His mother was very interested in clothes.

The choreographer understood their power while studying at the university. Society could be viewed through clothing: their importance in achieving social and political goals.

– Most people wear every morning. It’s a ritual and tells you how we want to perform in this world.

Harrell creates a space like a fashion show in her works, and it is easy for the public to interpret it.

– I noticed that the language of fashion was something that talked to me. Soon I understood when I started working with fashion that almost everyone knows what a fashion show is.

Harrell’s rise to the international peak of contemporary dance has also been of interest to fashion houses. The choreography has been cooperated in recent years to work with top designers, but the schedules have not coincided with.

Harrell points out that even though he uses fashion in his works, the works are not advertising platforms.

– It is good for people to know that in my works cannot market a fashion brand.

Harrell, who is familiar with the deepest nature of Voguing, is also an expert in Japanese BTO. He has been researching the dance form for ten years.

– Many people combine fashion stereotypically with glamor and beauty and buto degeneration, death and ugliness. It creates an interesting tension.

Harrell is currently taking a break as a dance maker. Next, a new page turns. Maybe in fashion and buto.

* The Cologne Concert* will be seen at the Dance House in Helsinki on February 1st.