Choreographer
Veli Lehtovaara is a choreographer and performer working in the international field of dance and experimental theatre. In 2008-2018, he lived and worked in Brussels. His work has been seen in central venues and festivals in Europe as well as North and South America.
Collaboration is essential in Lehtovaara’s working methods. He combines elements from various art disciplines with this own choreographic practice. Since 2015, Lehtovaara has centered his work on the interfaces of ecological thinking, choreographic practice, and body diversity.
Lehtovaara’s most recent work Ikimetsä | Clearcut focuses on old natural forests which face a diminishment of layering and biodiversity due to economic activities of humans. The work combines choreography and experimental radio play. The performances take place in shopping centers.
In 2022-22 Lehtovaara is a visiting artist and collaborator in a research project by dance artist Matilda Aaltonen. Lehtovaara is also performing the work Ontto harmaa tanssi (2020) together with choreographer Anna Mustonen and poet Olli-Pekka Tennilä.
Since 2018, Lehtovaara has worked as teacher, assessor, advisor, and mentor in the dance studies programs at the Theatre Academy of the University of Arts, Helsinki.
