Pastoral

If you look east from the valley nestled between two mountains, you can see a clearing. There lie a gray meadow and small man-made objects. Let’s say these are houses. If you ascend the right hillside of the valley, a well-trodden path crosses a stream. The ravens say that the stream has started to flow in the opposite direction, up the hill. Let’s assume this is true. The trail continues through the kingdom of the wild boar, a thicket damp with stench. Let’s say the path leads to the house. Let’s say the door is open. This is where we start.

Pastoral is a solo where the admonishing look of a prairie girl rooted in idyll meets the merciless power of nature. What happened is in the past, but at the same time in an endless whirlwind, unable to find peace. The clues are under the viewer’s nose, but buried under the dust of centuries. The room is the witness. The body is the caretaker. The power is in the hands of the Unknown. Pastoral glistens with hope in the dark bosom of this Unknown.

Elle Viies (b. 2000) has a BA in dance from the University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy. She is interested in eerie forms of being and bodies that are both functional and phenomenal. Viies has performed short-format solo forms at inklingroom events (2022) and at Loora Kaubi’s exhibition One never sees the sun in a dream (2023).

In the media: 

“Noored koreograafid jätsid laigu põrandale” – Kaja Kann, Sirp, 22.03.2024

“Noored koreograafid pakkusid Premiere’il õudust ja kõndisid hea maitse piiril” – Ele Viskus, ERR kultuuriportaal, 20.03.2024

“KIIRKOHTING: ELLE VIIES JA MARTA JAMSJA” – Helena Aadli, Müürileht, 11.03.2024

“Premiere’24-l esietenduvad uute koreograafide debüütlavastused” – ERR Kultuuriportaal, 8.03.2024