Contemporary fusion workshop

Teacher: Leevi Rauhalahti

*Description is in English because the workshop is taught in English

Contemporary Fusion -workshop 10th January from 13:45 – 15:45

In this workshop we blend the elements of contemporary dance and jazz techniques, resulting in a dynamic combination of flow, accents, and rhythmicality. Recently growing in popularity, contemporary fusion plays with proposing forms within generally free’er movement, and allows detailed choreographic work, play with musicality, etc. Through thorough warm-up with special attention to our cores, we dive into exercises surrounding the topics of articulating different body parts, quick changes of levels, building momentum, and towards the end elements of floorwork are visited, and acrobatics are applied to phrases in a meaningful way for the group in question.

At the end of the workshop, we combine the practiced elements into a choreographic phrase, and research how the principles of contemporary fusion can be beneficial in choreographic work. The classes are of high intensity, while still maintaining clarity in all textures of movement — through natural exhaustion the body is clearer with its feedback, and works more ergonomically, without excess tension. The workshop is suitable for dancers with a background in either contemporary and/or jazz dance.

Leevi Rauhalahti is a dancer and choreographer from Finland. They graduated from Iceland University of the Arts (BA in Contemporary Dance Practices) in 2024, and has since worked as a freelancer in Finland, Estonia, and Iceland. Their recent works include being a dancer in Rūta Pakalne’s “The Space Between Us is not Empty” (STL, Independent Dance Stage), as well as performing their solo work “Trilegy” in Reykjavík Dance Festival 2025. Although mostly working within the field of contemporary dance, he has an extensive background in jazz, most notably in the Mattox’ and Luigi’s techniques.