Tero technique

Tero Saarinen Company's works are recognized for their distinctive, raw, and captivating movement, shaped by Tero technique. Developed by Tero Saarinen, this technique fuses elements from ballet, contemporary dance, and Asian traditions such as butoh. The technique awakens and activates the body holistically and has been described as an organic and inventive blend of grotesqueness and beauty, like butoh with wings.

About the technique

The foundation of Tero technique lies in cultivating full-body awareness and presence – deepening one’s connection to their own body and the surrounding space and accumulating in nuanced, resonant movement. The technique is rooted in awakening the senses and nerve endings, from the soles of the feet to the fingertips, and in recognizing the weight of one’s own body. It explores suspension and aims to maximize a dancer’s ability to operate at its edges. By creating a rooted yet curious connection to the surrounding space and tapping into subconscious movement, the technique gives rise to dance that is fluid, responsive in form and constantly evolving — like flora and fauna.

Rather than conforming to a single form, Tero technique seeks out ways for each individual’s distinctiveness and vitality to emerge. It invites dancers to draw from their own movement styles, histories, and technical skills — unlocking new dimensions within themselves and their artistry. The movement philosophy encourages ergonomic risk-taking that nourishes creativity and fosters deep presence. In both technique classes and the creation process of TSC works, emphasizing the individuality and agency of each performer allows them to approach given tasks in their own way, paving new directions for artistic exploration.

“I’m eternally interested in finding new ways for this corporal expressiveness of ours. In that sense the technique is about waking up the nerve endings, letting the skin talk, and using the power of the eyes. I talk a lot about rooting, being on the ground and feeling the soil. I talk about the depth of inhabiting the space, by rooting, growing and blooming. It’s exciting to meet dancers from different backgrounds, traditions and age groups and continue to learn from them. “ – Tero Saarinen

Teaching and training

We teach Tero Technique weekly in our morning classes at TSC Studio and in workshops held both in Finland and abroad. Since we rarely hold auditions, attending our classes is the best way to get to know us — and to experience Saarinen’s movement technique and choreographic style.

Tero Technique classes offer participants the opportunity to embody the movement style and explore its core principles. Through this training, dancers can examine their own movement and develop their technical skills.

Humanity and mutual respect are central values in both our technique and teaching. A genuine interest in people, personal growth, collaboration, and joy are at the heart of how we connect with individuals and groups we encounter.

Learn more about our classes and upcoming workshops and sign up here!

“Tero Technique is ultimately about using the tools of embodiment, imagination, and dialogue to help transform how one can connect with the world. The search for sensations that are aware, alert, attentive, and alive is entangled with embodied dialogue and transformative experience. In this way, reimagination of the physical form gives way to that same reimagination in others. I often say in my classes, “Celebrate your choices, and in doing so, you can begin to celebrate the choices of those around you.” It is in this celebration of the world and its unlimited possibilities that I find a way to enter into an equal dialogue within the classroom.” – David Scarantino

Training

Tero Saarinen Company