Night of the Arts: Tulva & Alien
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4 performances
20.8-20.8.2026
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Tickets
Maksuton / free
Show times
ALIEN
20.8. at 16.30-17.10, Glass Courtyard
20.8. at 18.40-19.20, Glass Courtyard
Tulva
20.8. at 17.30-17.50, Glass Courtyard
20.8. at 19.30-19.50, Glass Courtyard
Intro
ALIEN
ALIEN is a pop-up dance performance choreographed by Taneli Törmä — a tribute to dance and to the courage of moving in public spaces. The work explores how different kinds of movement — alone or together, in sync or out of sync — affect us, and how passers-by respond when dance enters the flow of everyday life.
The choreography draws inspiration from communal dance traditions, such as club culture and circle dances, where movement is not a spectacle but a shared experience. ALIEN creates its own wave of movement that strengthens a sense of community and transforms public space into a living, ritualistic work of art, if only for a moment.
The ALIEN concept was developed as part of a co-production by Big Pulse Dance Alliance, produced by New Baltic Dance (Lithuania) and Dublin Dance Festival (Ireland), and co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
Since 2019, the work has been presented in five countries in collaboration with local dancers, with each new version building on those that came before. The latest edition was created in Kuopio for the dancers of Dance Theatre Minimi, who performed it 13 times across the city in autumn 2025. ALIEN was part of the KUMMA / What? Contemporary Art Biennial and the Kuopio250 anniversary programme, and now continues its journey to Helsinki for the Night of the Arts!
Tulva (Flood)
Tulva (Flood) is a dynamic contemporary dance performance in which Katja Mustonen and Maria Mäkelä dive into the endless stream of news and social media images through an intense duet. The work invites audiences to reflect on what draws us together—and what we allow to drift past us.
Created by internationally acclaimed choreographer Janina Rajakangas, the piece builds a tension and connection between the two performers as images of global uncertainty, good and bad news, and the relentless flow of information become inscribed on their bodies. Mustonen and Mäkelä recreate the poses of people seen in the images, forming a rhythmic, breathing choreography. They dance, run and sing as the stream of images passes through them again and again.
Tulva is a physical, sensitive and powerful duet that offers audiences a moment to pause and breathe amid the constant flood of images.
The work has previously been presented in a version featuring two professional dancers together with a group of local dance enthusiasts.
Performances are free and open to everyone!
Organizer: Tanssiteatteri Minimi
Credits
ALIEN
Choreography: Taneli Törmä
Dancers: Virva Torkko-Muñoz, Katja Mustonen, Mimmi Herd, Taneli Törmä
Sound Design: Esa Mattila
Production assistant: Anu Kauppi
Production: Tanssiteatteri Minimi
Photos: Petra Kuha
Funders: Kuopio250-juhlavuosi, KUMMA / M_itä? Nykytaiteen biennaali
Previous Funder: Big Pulse Dance Alliance - European Union's Creative Europe programme
2025 performances organized together with: KUMMA / What? Contemporary Art Biennial, Salacavala Café & Restaurant, Original Sokos Hotel Puijonsarvi, Kuopio Museum, Kuopio Old Town Museum, Tahko Nature Festival, Palad Showroom, Muuruvesi Church, Karttula Library, Kuopio City Theatre
Tulva
Choreography: Janina Rajakangas
Dancers: Katja Mustonen, Maria Mäkelä
Technical production: Tatu Vuori
Sound design: Tuuli Kyttälä
Light design, consultation: Outi Vedenpää
Costume design: Kirsi Gum
Photos: Petra Kuha
Production: Tanssiteatteri Minimi & Entirely Moved | Kaikki liikkuu ry
Music in performance: Yona – Vedenpaisumuslaulu
