Raised by wild reindeers in the vast tundras of Finland gave Tomi Paasonen his unbridled appreciation for horns. In his formative years, Mr. Paasonen performed his first masterpieces, including "The Ice Queen Variations", on the living room floor. They were an interesting atmospheric addition to his parents' Whiskey-infused evenings and gave new use to mom's flammable nightgowns. Before his loving but bewildered parents' well-meant plan to make him a choirboy had fully bared fruit, Tomi was already a rising star in The Tulle Department of Young Finnish Boys. He subsequently went on to represent his country in an international ballet competition, this time partnering a swan. His success resulted in a sudden move to Hamburg, Germany, which temporarily put his life in an alien-abduction-esgue state of shock. Years of passionate work and dedication thus achieved for Paasonen soloist status and tight buns with the famous Das Hamburger Ballet. Mr. Paasonen danced all the great classics, along with new creations and theatrical dance performances of his own making.
But this was not enough for Tomi, whose restless desire for new adventures took him across the great ocean to discover The United States of America, a rich and colorful country of diversity, freedom, real hamburgers, and dismal arts funding. Stranded in golden San Francisco, Tomi danced joyfully with Lines Contemporary Ballet. But the search for financial and romantic survival thrusted him on another wild rampage, culminating in a freak accident while working with The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, thus ending his dance career.
Currently Mr. Paasonen holds the opportunity to create something other-worldly, exploring the vast tundras of artistic disciplines. The new horn is called KUNSTSTOFF. It calls for unity, diversity, communication and money (yes, thank you) for the arts. It fuses all forms of art -- high and low, popular culture and technology -- into heightened, mind-expanding experiences.
Mr. Paasonen is a former soloist with the Joffrey Ballet, Lines Contemporary Ballet and the Hamburg Ballet. Since the beginning of 1998, he has been working in San Francisco, winning critical acclaim for his choreography, writing and dance, theater, film and performance art projects. This year alone he has presented 4 new works, including a full evening dance-play as a result of a 3 month residency at the Jon Sims Center for the Performing Arts and the sensational "X" for Summerfest/dance ’98 at Theatre Artaud.
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