hellänä - tender
is a dance performance that stretches the boundaries of reality and weaves together movement, sound, and punk-esque aesthetics to explore aging queer and trans peoplesâ esxperiences of care. The lived histories of different generations â knowledge of touch, closeness, and relationships â take bodily form on stage through dance and music as gestures of care and intimate everyday acts.
hellänä - tender reveals the realities and different types of relationships dreamed of by its performers: platonic, sibling-like, even romantic. It presents care as utopian dreams, intimate encounters, and challenging moments in everyday lifeâtiredness, arguments, distancing, breakups, and reconnections. The work invites the viewer to examine how caring can be personal, political, and collective at the same time.
â-
Working Group
Direction & choreography: Eevi Tolvanen
Artistic dialogue & production: Riikka Lakea
Performers: Amos, Eero, Johanna, Julius, Kikka, Seppo Kiuru
Band: Anukatariina Saloheimo, SariKristiina Beck & Välly
Spatial design: Una Auri
Costume design: Angela Mugisha
Sound design: Nori Kin
Lighting design: Vilma Vantola
Production intern: Ren Salento
Mentoring, dramaturgical discussion: Olga Spyropoulou, Katja Kirsi, Marianne Savallampi
Production: Mad House Helsinki & Center for Reality Studies
Supporters: City of Helsinki, Kone Foundation, Arts Promotion Center Finland & Center for Reality Studies
Pictures 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 10: Iida-Liina Linnea
hellänä - tender
is a dance performance that stretches the boundaries of reality and weaves together movement, sound, and pop aesthetics to explore aging queer and trans peoplesâ esxperiences of care. The lived histories of different generations â knowledge of touch, closeness, and relationships â take bodily form on stage through dance and music as gestures of care and intimate everyday acts.
hellänä - tender reveals the realities and different types of relationships dreamed of by its performers: platonic, sibling-like, even romantic. It presents care as utopian dreams, intimate encounters, and challenging moments in everyday lifeâtiredness, arguments, distancing, breakups, and reconnections. The work invites the viewer to examine how caring can be personal, political, and collective at the same time.
â-
Working Group
Direction & choreography: @eevitol
Artistic dialogue & production: @riikkalauri
Curation and mentoring: @olga_spyropoulou@mariannesaval@kirsikatja
Performers: @sateenkaarisukupolvet performance group
Scenography: @unaauri
Costume design: @yrstrlyae
Light design: @vilmavantola
Sound design: @exploitedbody
Production: @madhousehelsinki & @realityrescen
Supporters: @helsinki@taikegram@koneensaatio & @realityrescen
Photo: @valnevalainen
2025 began beautifully, crashed hard, then rebuilt itself into something even better. đđŚThank you to everyone who shared moments with me and stayed for the journey.đâ¨đ
Canât wait to see what magic 2026 brings â¨đĽ
