Sofia Martila “SЮDA”

The audience sits around the edges of the room at Kanuti Gildi SAAL, facing each other from all sides, while five performers take over the space in the middle. From the very beginning, you are not simply watching the performance. You are inside it.

SЮDA, created by choreographer Sofia Martila, is an unusual and very contemporary piece that brings together movement, music and light in a way that constantly shifts around you.

The five performers each have their own presence and their own way of moving. At times, they seem completely absorbed in their individual worlds, each creating their own little performance within the larger one. Then two or more of them come together, their movements connecting for a moment before they separate again.

The effect is fascinating. You never quite know where to look, and because the audience is sitting around the entire space, there is always another movement happening somewhere in your peripheral vision.

The lighting plays a huge role in creating this atmosphere. Dimmed lights change colour, while industrial-style bulbs hanging from cables across the ceiling switch on and off, almost creating their own rhythm. Combined with the music, the effect can be surprisingly intense.

And the music really drives the performance. At times it feels almost club-like, with the rhythm taking over the room and the movements responding to it. The boundaries between watching, listening and simply feeling what is happening around you start to become rather blurry.

What I particularly enjoyed was the sense of connection between the performers. Even when each person seems to be following their own movement, there are moments when they suddenly meet, move together and create something shared before returning to their individual paths.

SЮDA is only around 30 minutes, but it feels like a much bigger experience. It is contemporary, unconventional and very physical, with the space, music, lighting and performers all contributing to the same immersive atmosphere.

It is the kind of performance that doesn’t really ask you to understand everything. You can simply sit in the middle of it, let the music and movement take over, and experience it.

Experience dance, comedy, and more as the Tallinn Fringe Festival continues until 18 September.

Author: Hélène