IIRO RANTALA • MINNA TERVAMÄKI • ATTE KILPINEN • SUVI HONKANEN
If Shadows Are Weightless,
How Come They Are So Heavy?
DanceWorks Helsinki’s debut performance plunges into the ethereal world of shadows, where choreography by Minna Tervamäki and vibrant live music by jazz pianist Iiro Rantala bring the unseen weight of lightness to life.
Back on stage!
November 11th
Vaasan Kaupuginteatteri
A trip inside the human mind
Shadows need light to come into existence. They also require something to stop the light's path or alter its course. DanceWorks Helsinki’s first original production (2025) dives into a world of shadows, where the immaterial becomes heavy in weight: it explores, both metaphorically and literally, how the tension between lightness and heaviness can entrap the mind and body. The intangible nature of shadows and the emotions and imagery they evoke serve as a fascinating foundation for a contemporary ballet choreography, where lightness and weight alternate. Live piano music by Iiro Rantala brings unique depth to the piece. How can something so intangible carry so much weight?
Iiro
Rantala
Music
A celebrated pianist and composer, Rantala’s work bridges the worlds of classical music and jazz with an emotional resonance that perfectly complements the performance.
Atte Kilpinen
Dance
Recognized as one of Finland’s premier ballet talents, Atte Kilpinen captivates audiences with his powerful performances.
Suvi Honkanen
Dance
An award-winning dancer, Honkanen has had a long career dancing professionally with Finnish National Ballet and as a freelancer internationally.
Minna Tervamäki
Choreography, Dance
A renowned figure in the world of contemporary ballet, Tervamäki’s visionary choreography pushes the boundaries of movement and expression.
"It was an overwhelming, almost speechless experience. I felt like I was witnessing ballet in a way that truly resonated with me — its essence captured and reshaped with new tones and means, yet still unmistakably ballet. There was something in this that I had never seen before."
Henna Raatikainen
Journalist / Arts Critic