The autumn dance event Silence offers breathtaking movement and is inspired by the performance of classical music

“Silence is a dance performance inspired by the performance of classical music. The dance group forms an orchestra that follows the tradition of classical music and does everything in its power to bring the parts of the concertos to life. The structure of the work consists of soloist parts, which are drawn into the seats reserved for them. This way, no two performances are exactly the same, and at the same time, the soloist moments needed to produce the work are also divided without unnecessary competition within the working group,” says choreographer Jarkko Mandelin. The physically demanding contemporary dance work has elements of contact improvisation, acrobatics, breakdancing and martial arts. The work is a continuation of Mandelin’s previous work Gravity, which was performed in 2021 and 2023 to sold-out audiences. “In a way, we’ll pick up where we left off in Gravity. The dancers are really skilled and the large group allows them to roll over breathtaking movement continuums. The small stage of the City Theatre has been reopened in the form of an arena, which makes it possible to bring movement close to the audience. Whereas Gravity was a dystopian world where things happened as a kind of continuum or tapestry, Silence is an abstract play that plays with the hierarchy of music and dance, leaning more tightly on a structure formed by scenes,” Mandelin says . friends,” Mandelin promises. The international group of performers consists of Luca Bologna, Jacob Börlin, Sanni Giordani, Manuela Hierl, Mia Jaatinen, Minna Kaaronen, Jyrki Kasper, Kalle Lähde, Suvi Nieminen, Justus Pienmunne, Hugo Sellam and Oskari Turpeinen.  The choreography of the performance is by Jarkko Mandelin and the working group. The concept and set design were designed by Jarkko Mandelin. The costumes are designed by Elina Kolehmainen and the camouflage by Aino Hyttinen. The lighting design is by Aku Lahti and the sound design and composition are by Janne Hast. The choreographer’s assistant has been Suvi Nieminen. Silence is a collaboration between the Helsinki City Theatre, Kinetic Orchestra and Dance Theatre Minimi with the support of the New Classics Fund. Jarkko Mandelin is a contemporary dance choreographer with a degree in classical ballet and an internationally active trainer. She has created her own recognizable style and is especially known as a developer of contemporary dance, partner technique and floor technique. Mandelin is the founder and artistic director of the Kinetic Orchestra dance group.  Helsinki Dance Company is a contemporary dance company founded in 1973 in connection with the Helsinki City Theatre. Helsinki Dance Company has worked with several renowned artists over the years and has also had a significant impact on the professionalization of dance art in Finland. In addition to independent dance productions, dancers have performed extensively in theatre productions from plays to musicals, as well as worked in choreographic tasks. The company is known for its charismatic and expressive dancers, as well as its visually polished and movement-strong works. At the moment, the group produces two premieres a year, one in the autumn season and one in the spring season. Dancer, choreographer Valtteri Raekallio started as the leader of the dance group on 1.8.2024.  Read the interview with the choreographer on the theatre’s website: Dizzying, energetic and acrobatic contemporary dance.  Silence premieres on 9.10.2024 on the small stage of the Helsinki City Theatre (Eläintarhantie 5). Tickets: basic ticket 34 €, student ticket 16 € (Mon-Thu) and pensioner ticket 31 € (Mon-Thu) #silence @hktfi Helsinki City Theatre ticket sales and customer service by phone (09) 3940 22 Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket offices First line 2, Mon-Fri 12-17, Eläintarhantie 5, Sat (on performance days) 11-18.30 and one hour before the performance and Lippu.fi, Mon-Sat 9-21, Sun 10-16, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/from min+local network charge) www.hkt.fi Press release photo: Petra TiihonenFurther information, media ticket reservations and interview requests: Communications Manager Kaisa Pelkonen, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788 Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja 2, 00530 Helsinki