Birds of Paradise
Professional wrestlers’ mating danceNote: No longer in repertoire!
Tiia Kasurinen’s Birds of Paradise draws inspiration from the courtship dances of birds-of-paradise, professional wrestling, love songs and longing. This choreographic work reveals how birds and humans alike create seductive rituals in order to be noticed, accepted and chosen. The result is a physical and playful performance exploring power, gender roles and vulnerability.
In addition to avian courtship dances, Bird of Paradise is inspired by stereotypical forms of human masculinity: professional wrestling, martial arts, boy bands, princes and club culture. The stage is inhabited by four utopian birds-of-paradise, dressed in costumes from costume designer Leevi Ikäheimo’s No Pain No Glamour collection, which explores hypermasculinity.
Birds of Paradise is part of the Contemporary Performance Stage programme. Based at Studio Pasila, the Contemporary Performance Stage introduces new forms of performing arts to Helsinki City Theatre’s programme and creates unique encounters between an established professional theatre and independent artists.
An early version of Birds of Paradise attracted international attention as early as 2024, when it was selected for the final of the Danse Élargie choreography competition in Paris – the first Finnish work in the competition’s history. Kasurinen graduated from the dance programme at Stockholm University of the Arts in 2017. Her choreographies have been presented at Dance Base in Yokohama, Japan, the One Dance festival in Bulgaria, Inkonst in Sweden, Helsingin juhlaviikot and Zodiak – Uuden tanssin keskus. Kasurinen’s works explore identity, gender and pop culture. The internet and its many forms are an important source of inspiration for her.
Supporters and partners: Koneen säätiö, Suomen Kulttuurirahasto, Institut Finlandais, pARTir, Dansé Elargie, Zodiak – Uuden tanssin keskus / Loisto, Helsinki City Theatre’s Contemporary Performance Stage
Residencies: Cité Internationale des Arts, Atelier De Paris, Saaren kartano, Helsinki City Theatre’s Contemporary Performance Stage
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