We are delighted to announce that internationally renowned director and choreographer Sasha Pepelyaev will join us as the guest artist for our CPPM program over the next two weeks. Known for his groundbreaking contributions to contemporary dance and theatre, Pepelyaev’s appointment reinforces our commitment to pushing artistic boundaries.

A Legacy of Creative Innovation

While studying at Moscow University, Sasha Pepelyaev began his distinguished career in Moscow, where he discovered the art of pantomime. His early work as a mime soloist at the Taganka Theatre and the Moscow Concert Agency quickly established him as a rising star. In 1984, he took the helm as artistic director of the mime studio at Moscow State University. In 1987, during the perestroika era, he founded one of Moscow’s first independent theatre studios, “Poor Yorik.”

After “Poor Yorik” closed in 1990, Pepelyaev expanded his creative repertoire by working across various artistic disciplines, including circus, television, and drama theatres both in Moscow and internationally. In 1994, he founded “The Kinetic Theater” in Moscow, where he pioneered experimental projects that fused postmodern narratives with contemporary dance and traditional Russian dramatic styles. As the founder and artistic director of the contemporary dance company KINETIC (1994–2014), his work has captivated audiences worldwide and earned him prestigious awards such as the Prix d’Auteur (France, 1998), the Annual Prize of Theatre (Estonia, 2003), the Choreographer/Creator Award at THE BESSIES (USA, 2003–2004), and the GOLDEN MASK award in Russia (2016). Since relocating to Estonia in 2020, his recent projects have focused on integrating dance, visual theatre, and interactive video.

Workshop “Who am I, and if, how many?”

The workshop will focus on developing a framework for visual-physical performance and practical methods. Participants will explore the process from the initial concept through rough realisation, verification, and modification. This will involve analysing available tools, seeking inspiration, and examining the various phases and patterns inherent in the creative process. A key component will be the creation of a ‘sign’—an essential element of visual communication. Equally important is the ‘code’, a collection of homogeneous signs that conveys the content and intended message of the performance. Participants will investigate how objects and environments can serve as building blocks for this code. Themes for improvisation will be suggested to the participants and later form the basis of a dramatic structure or ‘story’. These themes will be reinterpreted and transformed through choreographic patterns, incorporating elements of dance, acrobatics, and contact improvisation. The core aim of the workshop is to broaden the range of tools available for creative expression, with a particular focus on the visual aspects of stage production. While developing a performance model is a desirable outcome, it is not an absolute requirement.

Within the CPPM program, Sasha Pepelyaev will lead two exclusive public events.

Public Lecture “Graphics from Movements”

21 March 2025, 19:00
Pepelyaev will showcase how custom media tools transform body movements into visual narratives in this engaging lecture.

Open Class

28 March 2025, 19:00
This open class will highlight the results of an intensive two-week workshop with our CPPM students under his guidance.

For further details and ticket information, please visit our Events section.