About
SPACE/HERITAGE is a dance performance directed and choreographed by Ben Fury (BE/MA). The documentary film ‘Sound of Belgium’ (2012, dir. Jozef Devillé) has been an inspiration and a starting point for this work: the performance will explore the heritage and concept of clubbing with dancers and designers. The group will search the atmosphere of the early 90’s infamous clubbing scene of Belgium by challenging themselves with mixing different styles of urban dance in a contemporary set up.
I want to dig deep into the world of clubbing and search for our personal, but basic need for the beat and movement as humans. How can we create our own style through our own physical appearance and heritage that we carry with us, and yet try to belong to the community in a unison movement.
–Ben Fury
The performance is part of a four-year EU-project BEPART,as the URB festival is one of the partners.
Ben Fury
Moroccan born Benaji Mohamed/Ben Fury established his foundation of dance in the underground scene of break dance in Brussels through the 80ies and 90ies. As a breakdancer he progressively worked on the development of floorwork, groove, style and powermoves. In 1998 he was absorbed by the contemporary dance scene and embarked on a journey that is still present today.
It has since a long time been his object for research to fuse these two worlds of artistic expression, still progressing in the approach to each, still allowing one to inspire and influence the other and to let them become an expression of itself when joined.
A basic element for his interest of work, no matter which project, has always been music. Through time the influence of music has developed along with musical styles. The musical basis for his workshop objective now is the style of TRAP, variation of electronic music expressing groove and flavor, beat and air.
Ben Fury directed a dance performance X∙over for URB 21 festival, and ever since the performance has been performed in Finnish dance festivals and in 2023 it was chosen in the national Art testers –project.
Andrii “Pluto”Gregul
Andrii is a professional dancer, dance teacher and DJ. He is a member of a globally well-known dance group called Ruffneck Attack. Gregul was born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine, where he started breaking 20 years ago. For the past 15 years, he has been traveling all over the world as a competitor, performer, judge and teacher as well as a participant and winner of numerous events and competitions. In 2015 Gregul moved to Helsinki and ever since he has been actively involved in the Finnish urban dance scene by attending competitions and winning them, as well as teaching in several dance schools. In 2018-19 Gregul took part in dance theatre Hurjaruuth’s “Talvisirkus”. Currently Gregul is one of the coaches for the National Breaking Team and started working with Finland’s best b-boys/b-girlsfor the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris. Andrii was also performing in Fury’s previous production X∙over at URB 21 festival.
Jeffrey Kam
Jeffrey is a busser, DJ, father of one child and above all – a dancer. Kam started to be interested in hip hop and b-boying already in the age of 4, and later on he found Locking as his beloved dance style. Kam was performing in Finnish version of TV production So You Think You Can Dance in 2012, and after that, his dancing started to be more serious. Since, he has been working as a dancer i.e. in Disney’s Tarzan the musical at the Helsinki City Theater, Indigo and The Flying Dutchman at the Finnish National Opera and Fiddler On The Roof musical at Tampereen Työväen Teatteri. Numerous competitions, shows, gigs, trips to competitions and occasions to learn more from different people abroad, theatre and opera, as well as his personal life changes, has lead the path for Kam’s dancing. He describes the path as the feeling of freedom and improvisation. Jeffrey was also performing in Fury’s previous production X∙over at URB 21 festival.
Taru Koski
Taru Koski (1984) is Helsinki based freelance dance artist. She holds a Master’s Degree in Philosohy (University of Helsinki) and in Theater Practice (ArtEZ). Taru’s dance style is contemporary dance.
Sanna Nazimov
Sanna is a Helsinki based dancer, dance teacher and choreographer. She has danced many different dance styles, of which street dance and especially hip-hop have become her favorite. Over the years, Sanna has also had time to compete and perform successfully.
The most inspiring thing about dancing is music, which is felt in the body and mind. The feelings brought by the music give freedom to the interpretation, while still respecting the culture and origin of Hip Hop. Nowadays, a new feeling for her dance has been found in popping.
You have been able to admire Sanna’s own handprint, for example, when her “Push!” -work premiered at the UrbanApa festival in Stoa in 2014, and later on also at Oulu’s Ou-Dance! -festival in 2016.
In 2014, Sanna completed DiAmbra’s dance studies in Stockholm. Besides dancing and family life, Sanna works as a textile print entrepreneur.
Ella Sinervo
Ella is a house dancer currently residing in Espoo. She started her dance journey with hip hop, and having tried many different dance styles over the years, she got into house music and, through that, discovered house dance. She enjoys dancing the most in the corner of a club listening to jazzy house tunes. Ella has completed studies in house dance at Åsa Folkhögskola in Sweden and has competed and done smaller performances in different groups and individually both in Finland and abroad. Apart from dancing, Ella holds a Master of Arts degree in literary studies and works full-time as a linguist in the field of language technology.
Credits
Choreographer-director: Ben Fury
Koreographer’s assistants: Jeffrey Kam & Sara Hirn
Choreography: Ben Fury & working group
Dancers: Andrii Gregul, Jeffrey Kam, Taru Koski, Sanna Nazimov, Ella Sinervo
Sound design: Joonas Pehrsson
Lighting design: Mia Jalerva
TProduction: Kiasma-teatteri / URB23 festival, programme of BePart-project
Thank you: TSC, Alpo Aaltokoski Company
