OSKAR MOORE (Latvia)

I am a young professional contemporary movement artist and choreographer from Riga, Latvia. I play several roles in theatre plays in theatre houses in Latvia, applying my knowledge of movement to purvey characters without the use of speech. I’m also a part of the contemporary dance collective “SIXTH” where we create and show performances with fellow coursemates from our generation of graduates.

In addition to movement, I am interested in music and visual arts. I have an interdisciplinary approach to choreography, creating a more multi-sensory performer and audience experience.

I began developing my professional interest in contemporary dance choreography at the Latvian Academy of Culture (LKA). I started my Bachelor studies at LKA in the stage acting course in 2018, then progressed to the contemporary dance choreography course a year later, from which I graduated in 2022. I found that movement often made it possible to experience what cannot be expressed through words. I discovered a strong connection between physical and emotional perception which can lead performers and audience members through concepts and feelings into spaces that might not otherwise be considered.

In work with movement, I am interested in empathy, both within myself and towards other people. Spanning theatre and contemporary dance, I intend to continue developing my interest in inner emotional dynamics, enabled by physical body expression.

In addition to knowledge of various contemporary dance techniques and contact improvisation, I have also gained experience in the practice of Yoga, Aikido (and Aikido Bokken), Tai Chi and Taekwondo. I feel inspired by the self discipline and philosophy of martial arts. Having had experience both prior to Bachelor studies and during, I feel the accumulated bodily knowledge and mental focus has had a strong influence on my movement aesthetic and technique.

I believe that when we notice what is happening within us, we become more aware of what is happening around us, among the people we are with and within our ecosystem. This awareness improves appreciation, encouraging resilience as our world progresses in its erratic steps.

As a performer, I’ve worked with artists such as Agate Bankava, Kristīne Brīniņa, Elīna Gediņa, Ingri Fiksdal, Jana Jacuka, Davide Giovanzana, Elīna and Dmitri Gaitjukevičš.

During studies I had the opportunity to learn under the guidance of Olga Žitluhina, Ramona Galkina and Ilze Zīriņa. During this time I also gained knowledge in workshops lead by Gregor Lufštek, Kristina Šajtošova, Žigan Krajnčan, Fiona Millward, Elīna Gaitjukevičs, Dmitri Gaitjukevičš, Davide Giovanzanna, Kuik Swee Boon, Surjit Nongmeikapam, Michelle Boule, Vittoria De Ferrari Sapetto, Circus troupe “Circo Eia”, Oleg Soulimenko, Jānis Putniņš, Renee Nommik, Contact GONZO, Susana Szperling, Virpi Juntti and others. 

In addition to that I’ve since attended workshops lead by Katja Mustonen, Kira Kirsch, Antoine Ragot, Fabian Thomé, Antoni Adoulakis, Niels Claes, Jarkko Mandelin, Ieva Ginkeviciute, Erik Eriksson, Daniella Eriksson, Sasha Veselý, Aigars Larionovs, Alise Putniņa, Anna Novikova, Natia Chikvaidze, Rima Pipoyan, Felipe Fizkal, Alan Fuentes Gerra, Jenna Berlyn and Christopher Kerbourch.

In 2023, I was nominated for the Latvian Dance award category “Young artist 2021-2022” for my Bachelor’s diploma performance “CERTAINTY”. Though, in the end, our contemporary dance collective of fellow graduates “SIXTH” received the award for our first performance “GLITCH”.

My first full-length piece since graduating, “Loop&Engine”, premiered on 19/06/2024 in the great hall of the Latvian Railway history museum.