A Special Evening: DanceWorks Helsinki’s Contemporary Ballet Premiere

Feb 12

2 min read

dancers atte kilpinen and suvi honkanen on stage for contemporary ballet if shadows by danceworks helsinki — Atte Kilpinen and Suvi Honkanen on stage. Photo by Minna Hätinen

The sold out premiere of the contemporary ballet If Shadows Are Weightless, How Come They Are So Heavy? was a moment of pride and joy for DanceWorks Helsinki. After months of dedication, creativity, and hard work, seeing the stage come to life in front of a sold-out audience was an unforgettable experience. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who attended, supported, and believed in this production. Your presence and energy made the evening even more special—thank you for sharing it with us!

pianist iiro rantala on stage for danceworks helsinki contemporary ballet performance — The maestro himself - jazz pianist Iiro Rantala. Photo by Minna Hätinen

Reflections from the Audience

The response to the performance has been heartfelt and encouraging. Journalist and arts critic Henna Raatikainen shared their thoughts:

"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. The performance was not just movement but a fully immersive work of art. The interplay between beauty, playfulness, strangeness, and even moments of unease—the sensation of one's own body as foreign—was masterfully executed. The contrast between the light, airy movement language and the segments that questioned or disrupted it worked perfectly. And of course, the dancers—absolutely brilliant! Your dynamic energy on stage was pure gold. Iiro Rantala’s music soared alongside the dance, elevating the experience even further. Thank you, and wow—I’m so glad I was there. It would have been a huge injustice to miss this!"

atte kilpinen, minna tervamäki and suvi honkanen in contemporary ballet if shadows — Atte Kilpinen, Minna Tervamäki and Suvi Honkanen. Photo by Minna Hätinen

While receiving praise from an arts critic is always an honor, what moved us just as much were the messages from audience members without a professional background in dance. We were overwhelmed with happiness reading their thoughts, knowing that this piece resonated not only with professionals but also with people experiencing contemporary ballet in a new way. It was important to us that If Shadows would captivate seasoned arts enthusiasts while remaining accessible and engaging for all. DanceWorks Helsinki is built on the idea that dance should be for everyone, and your responses reminded us why we do what we do. We want to make dance work for all, after all. Thank you for embracing this work with open hearts!

Exciting News: A Second Show Announced!

Following the success of the premiere, we’re happy to share that If Shadows Are Weightless, How Come They Are So Heavy? will return for another performance on March 26, 2025!

Tickets are already selling fast—secure yours now on Lippu.fi.

We can’t wait to share this piece with you again. Thank you for being part of our journey— see you in March!

With gratitude,

DanceWorks Helsinki