A raw and sensual dance ritual

Here, she brings together a group of fearless dancers and musicians for a raw and sensual dance ritual that exposes the deeper layers of our subconscious. Through untamed dance, inspired by live music, song, and a majestic, colorful set design, they create a shared space for self-expression, dreams, and transformation.

Through her expansive performing arts, Elina Pirinen seeks to actively resist the bleak times in which we live.

Those of you who enjoyed Cullberg’s *Sylph* in the spring of 2023 will love *Mortal Tropical Dances*.

Note: The performance contains harmless theatrical smoke, scents, explicit physicality, bodily fluids, and music that may be perceived as loud (within legal limits). In some scenes, the dancers move close to the audience.

Recommended age: 14 and up

The Choreographer

In her artistic practice, Elina Pirinen weaves together choreography, dance, music, writing, and pedagogy. She is interested in our subconscious, primal emotions, and by constructing free psychological states, she reveals the intelligence they hold. Pirinen’s work has been shown around the world, and she has been awarded the Finnish State Prize in 2022 and the Prix Jardin in 2015 in Vienna. Pirinen also creates art rock with her ten-piece orchestra Al2Be3 and volunteers in animal welfare.

The Music in the Work

Sound designer and composer Ville Kabrell has composed the live music for the performance, which features mantras and growling, accompanied by doom guitars, bells, and percussion. On stage, he plays synthesizers, guitar, and the dulcimer, alongside experimental percussionist Tatu Rönkkö and guitarist and actor Pyry Nikkilä. The vocals are performed by members of the renowned Finnish vocal ensemble Lumen valo (Light in the Snow) alongside soloists from Umeå.

The Dancers

We are introduced to an international ensemble of six dancers on stage. Felix Urbina Alejandre is a Mexican dancer based in Reykjavik. Adrian Bartczak is originally from Poland and has been a member of Carte Blanche, Norway’s national contemporary dance company, since 2016. Simone Lorenzo Benini is an Italian freelance dancer based in Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. Una Björg Bjarnadóttir is an Icelandic dance artist who is now collaborating with Elina Pirinen for the third time. Caroline Eckly, from France, worked as a ballerina before joining Carte Blanche in Norway. Karolina Ginman is a freelance dancer and choreographer based in Finland.

The Costumes in the Work

The performance’s eye-catching costumes were created by Muotikummitus – Fashionghost, visual artist Jouko Korkeasaari’s gender-bending fashion alias. They can be described as wearable works of art, inspired by subcultures, fashion trends, and gender. Muotikummitus is interested in exploring new techniques and materials, as well as photographing themselves as alternative characters. The work is driven by a desire to transform old materials into something glamorous or grotesque.

Set Designer and Lighting Designer

The production’s majestic set and lighting design were created by Mikko Hynninen, a multimedia artist who moves between theater stages, contemporary music, and art galleries. Offstage, he works in both architectural and virtual environments. His most recent solo performances have been based on sound composition. These include *Alphabets*, a work for the Helsinki Computer Orchestra featuring twenty-nine laptop artists; *Fantasy#1 for a Pornstar*, a monologue for a retired porn star; and *Theatre#_*, a performance for empty theater stages.