The dance classic no-no is making a comeback 30 years after its premiere

“I’m really happy that we can show this work to the new generation, which is a comprehensive visual and emotional experience,” says Valtteri Raekallio, the leader of the dance group, who also performed in the 2008 version of no-non .

” No-no , which balances between extreme physicality and sensual poetry, opens up to the viewer as an intense ritual of movement and also leaves the viewer breathless. An essential part of the overall work of art is also Jens Sethzman’s lighting and spatial design, as well as music, which supports the dancers from ecstatic physicality towards sacred reaching sensitivity,” Raekallio describes.

The return of the classic work required the choreographer to travel to the attic

No-no , which premieres in November, is faithful to the original version that premiered in 1996.

“A long time ago, when I was cleaning, I took two boxes to the attic that read: when I’m dead, these can be sent to the Dansmuseet archives. In the second box were all the materials no-no, and it said that this is the only work that can be made after I have died… Many works are so tied to a certain time that it may not always be worth doing them again after 30–50 years,” says choreographer Kenneth Kvarnström.

“When Valtteri asked if HDC could do no-non again, my first question was: why not make a new work? When Valtteri said no, I had to go to the attic and dig out one of these boxes. Now we try to do it the way it was back then. But let’s agree that this will be the last time,” Kvarnström continues with a smile.

The 2026 version, designed for nine dancers, features Matilda Bjärum Bengtsson (guest), Sofia Hilli, Jyrki Kasper, Anni Koskinen (guest), Aksinja Lommi, Pekka Louhio, Mikko Paloniemi, Justus Pienmunne and Inka Tiitinen. Of them, Sofia Hilli, Mikko Paloniemi and Inka Tiitinen were also involved in the 2008 version.

The set and lighting design are by Swedish Jens Sethzman, and the costumes are by Sari Salmela. The sound designer is Jyrki Sandell, and the camouflage is designed by Tuula Kuittinen.

no-no was the opening work of Kvarnström, who was the leader of HKT’s dance company from 1996 to 1998, and it immediately became a favourite of both audiences and critics. Kvarnström’s strong physical and poetic movement language brought the group a new audience and great media attention. Kenneth Kvarnström’s choreographies have been described as physical and rough, but also sensual and sensitive. The work no-no was successfully performed on tours both in Finland and abroad.

Kirsi Karlenius, Kai Lähdesmäki, Unto Nuora and Kaisa Torkkel , who danced in the original production, still work at the Helsinki City Theatre. The 1996 version also featured Mattias Ekholm, Harri Kuorelahti/Ville Sormunen, Raisa Punkki and Tove Wingren.

Kenneth Kvarnström received his dance training in Sweden and has been working as a choreographer since 1987, when he founded his own group, K. Kvarnström & Co. The group has toured around the world and made various commissions, most recently with GöteborgsOperans Danskompan’s 12 Songs singer Ane Bruni and collaborations with lutenist Jonas Nordberg . He was the director of the Helsinki City Theatre’s dance company in 1996–98 and the chief choreographer in 2010–2013. Kvarnström led Dansens Hus in Stockholm from 2004 to 2007 and was the dance director at Kulturhuset Stadsteatern in Stockholm from 2014 to 2017.

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. The dance group is led by Valtteri Raekallio.

Read the interview with choreographer Kenneth Kvarnström and dance group leader Valtteri Raekallio on the theatre’s website: Masterful Choreographic Craftsmanship and the Ecstasy of Dance

no-no premiere on 19.11.2026 and performances until 29.12.2026 on the small stage of the Helsinki City Theatre (Eläintarhantie 5).

Basic ticket €45, student ticket €22.50 (Mon-Thu) and pensioner ticket €43 (Mon-Thu)
#nono @hktfi

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Press release photo: Stefan Bremer (1996)

Further information, interview requests and media ticket requests:
Kaisa Pelkonen, Communications Manager, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788
Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja 2, 00530 Helsinki