Candy shop of Movement – the boundary breaking Elements of Freestyle
8.7.2025
”As a director.. I always felt I was in a candy shop!”
Marco Gerris, the founder and artistic director behind ISH Dance Collective, isn’t afraid to break the boundaries of movement. He has always been inspired to try different styles and mix them together. He doesn’t want to settle on just one discipline. This idea of boundary breaking art is also what he founded the dance collective on. ISH is all about blending different performance styles, from BMX riding to classical music, from ballet to hiphop. And when asked whether Marco ever felt like some mix of styles was too much, his answer was clear.
”Honestly? No, but there have been moments in rehearsals where I thought, ’Okay, maybe we're going too far.’ Like, are people ready for BMX bikes flying through a theatre next to live musicians? But that's the point.. pushing those limits is what ISH is about. If it feels a bit crazy, we might just be onto something. Sometimes it doesn't work right away, but it always leads to new discoveries.”
This passion for breaking boundaries is what has driven Marco since he founded ISH 25 years ago. He had multiple ideas and an unstoppable drive to mix styles, even if the way to make it all happen was still unclear. His advice for any hopeful future ISH’ers echoes the same:
”Stay curious. At ISH, we look for people who aren't afraid to cross borders between styles, between disciplines, even between art forms. So keep training your craft, but also look beyond it. A breaker can learn from a ballet dancer. A skater can learn from the theatre world. And most importantly bring your own story...Technique is important, but your individuality and personality, that's what makes you stand out and makes you an ISH'er... always stay true to yourself!”
It’s all about the community
This is also what Marco would remind his younger self about. Trusting the process and staying true to your passion is what eventually built ISH into something even bigger than he ever imagined. Marco also highlights the importance of surrounding yourself with likeminded creatives, who inspire and challenge you. He says you cannot build something like ISH alone. While Marco has been awarded with several awards throughout his career, it is the community that brings him the most sense of accomplishment.
”Seeing a young performer step on stage for the first time, coming from the streets, maybe never thinking they'd perform in a theatre and absolutely owning the spotlight. That feeling, seeing someone grow and find their power through ISH, that's more valuable than any trophy. Also, seeing a full house react emotionally to a show where we mixed hiphop with classical music or breaking with opera—that's when I feel like, ’Yes, we did it.’”
ISHing their way to Finland
This summer, ISH is bringing their community to Finland for the first time. Marco says he is excited to connect with the Finnish audience.
”Every time we take ISH abroad, we're not just bringing a show, we're creating dialogue. I'm curious to see how Finnish audiences respond to our mix of styles and energy. Also, I'm always looking for new inspirations, new movements, new stories. Who knows? Maybe we'll meet artists in Finland who end up collaborating with us in the future. That's the magic of what we do.. it's always evolving.. ”
Come and see ISH Dance Collective's Elements of Freestyle on Saturday 2nd of August at Tampere Hall!
Sat 2 Aug at 18:00 | Duration 1h | Tampere Hall, Main auditorium | Tickets 42–67 €
Photos: Michel Schnater