International Work
Teaching
The company has produced and implemented several international tours, training and collaborative projects worldwide, either as short-term visits of one or two weeks or then projects lasting several months. All visits have included a performance as well as a workshop.
MovesOn
In 2009, Tuovinen and Heslop started MovesOn international cultural development cooperation project. It aims to create long-term partnerships with local dance companies and organizations to promote social and economic equality through dance. They have implemented several large-scale cultural development cooperation projects in Argentina and Brazil.
Bom Jardin
Located in one of Fortaleza's most impoverished favelas, the Bom Jardin Cultural centre was one of the group's most exciting projects. The choreographers worked with local dance teachers and young dancers for two week; improvising on the neighborhood streets and creating a performance with the group. The visit ended with a performance by the workshop participants at the Cultural Centre's theatre.
Itapipoca
Itapipoca is a remote town in northeastern Brazil. There, the choreographers visited a local dance company. Despite the challenging conditions, the local dancers ambitiously maintained a dance school and a dance company. The Balé Baiao dance company's mission is to get the local community involved in the dance. The visit by As2wrists Dance Company was a significant boost to the company's profile in the area. During an intensive week, the choreographers taught improvisation, repertoire material and prepared a demo performance together with the company members. The dancers were also part of a dance documentary for which material was filmed on a stunning beach location. The visit ended with a duet performed by Minna and Martin and a demo performance by the Balé Baiao dance company at the House of Culture, the walls of which were adorned with political slogans. The choreographers returned to Itapipoca for a second time to continue the collaboration.
Paracuru
Paracuru is a small fishing village in northeast Brazil and the home of ex-ballet dancer Flavio Sampaio and is where he runs a ballet school and dance company. This ambitious company have performed all over Brazil and travelled to many international festivals. Minna and Martin have had the great pleasure to work with the company on many occasions. One of the highlights of the collaboration was the filming of "A Postcard from Paracuru", a dance documentary conceived and filmed by Tuovinen and Heslop. During the filming, Minna and Martin had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the dancers and their families. These experiences have remained indelibly in their minds.
Bahia Blanca
In Bahia Blanca, Argentina, Minna and Martin worked with the local Cuatroicuarto dance company. One of the most extended projects so far. They spent four months in the city. The result was the work Tango for No Body. A work for nine dancers, which premiered in the magnificent city theatre.
Kiertueet
As2wrists Dance company has toured several times in Argentina. In 2007, the company performed Tango for the Emotionally Famous for six evenings in Buenos Aires, gaining widespread visibility in its largest newspapers. The performance was also seen by the famous Argentine Tango singer Susana Rinaldi.
The following year, the company toured with the same work to Santa Fe, Rosario, Marcos Juarez in Argentina, and Salvador de Bahia in Brazil. In 2012, the group produced and performed a dance documentary about the woman's role in argentine Tango, called A step in the Tangocean. The choreographers filmed the documentary in Buenos Aires in collaboration with director Silvina Szperling. It has been screened at several dance and dance video festivals around the world.
In 2013, Minna and Martin performed their highly acclaimed work Tango Noir at the VideoDanzaBa Festival in Buenos Aires. Then, they performed at Córdoba's major theatre festival, the Internacional Festival del Teatro Mercosur. As part of the festival, the choreographers also held an Improcamera workshop with Silvina Szperling in collaboration with The Centro Cultural de España. The tour ended with a performance in Marcos Juarez, as part of the city,s 100 year anniversary celebrations.
In 2014, the group travelled to Cali, Colombia, where the company''s choreographers led a 2-week residency at Javeriana University. They held an Improcamera workshop with Silvina Szperling. The multidisciplinary workshop was attended by students from the media arts, communication and dance departments. The theme of the workshop was the creative body in an urban environment. The workshop's highlight was a day-long filming visit to the centre Cali, coloured by dangers, surprises, and oppressively hot weather. The video and audio material was compiled into a video installation presented at a local gallery. The installation also included live performances by the students. During the 2-week visit, the choreographers also performed Tango Noir at the Alfonso Borreo Theater.
In 2016, the group conducted a Tango Noir performance visit and an Improcamera residency in Patagonia, Argentina. The visit ended with a premiere of Still Moving in Puerto Madrid.
