Cha cha on the Coastal Trail changes our relationship with the world.

 

The dance piece Helsinki as a Stage invites city dwellers to experience their environment in a new way for three weeks.

What happens when a cha-cha dancing performer encounters you on an outdoor trail? This question serves as the starting point for the unique dance piece Helsinki as a Stage, which shifts our bodily experience of our surroundings, other people, and the world around us. The dance piece challenges norms: why do certain movements and behaviors seem to belong only to specific places or situations?

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Helsinki as a Stage not only brings dance into public spaces but also makes the whole city of Helsinki a stage. The piece offers a unique opportunity to view the city with fresh eyes as dancer Sanna Hento moves around the city, creating new meanings for the places we consider mundane. Through dance, new dimensions open up for urban space, local nature, and our own bodily experiences—everyday environments become part of an artistic dialogue.

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For three weeks, Helsinki as a Stage brings dance art to various parts of the city. The piece chachas from Seurasaarenselkä to the shores of Lauttasaari, progresses with promenade runs to the city center, circles Vanhankaupunginlahti with paso doble, moves to Laajasalo withs rumba walks, and arrives in Vuosaari dancing botafogos.

 

Helsinki as a stage

Choreography: Satu Aavanranta ja Sanna Hento

Dance: Sanna Hento

Duration: 50 min

Performances: The performance can be seen along Helsinki's coastal trails from October 28 to November 15, 2024, on weekdays between 10-16. There will be a total of 90 performances.

Production: Ko-kollektiivi

Supported by: Arts Promotion Centre Finland, City of Helsinki