Silentopia examines the importance of individual activity to the well-being of our planet through dance, physical theater and live music. The work is a co-production of Sivuun Ensemble, Espoo City Theater and April Jazz Festival. The show's premiere on Thursday 14 April starts the 36th April Jazz Festival.
Silentopia is an interdisciplinary event straddling arts and sciences. It offers a compassionate space within which to examine feelings aroused both by the climate crisis, and our complicity in it. Dance theatre group Sivuun Ensemble invites the audience into Revontulihalli, now a holistic chapel of nature, where a ritualistic performance transports us towards transformation. Silentopia uses dance, physical theatre, and live music to examine our individual impact on the wellbeing of our planet. The Earth’s supreme communal residents, ants, provide an alternative perspective informing the work.
Chorographer Ninni Perko’s furious, delicate, and sacred initiation rite visualises new worlds and possibilities by building bridges to a positive future. The working group is rich in scope and talent. The performance is visualised by Alisha Davidow and Ainu Palmu. In the chapel of nature, musicians Anni Elif Egecioglu, Pauli Lyytinen and Jarmo Saari, sound designer Paavo Malmberg, and researchers Unni Pulliainen and Jaakko Kaartinen all participate in the performance with dancers Katri Soini, Jukka Tarvainen, Kaisa Niemi, and Tiia Hämäläinen. In addition to Pullinen and Kaartinen, the scientific content of the work has been authored by researchers Panu Pihkala and Marja Mesimäki.
Electro-acoustic music creates a new sacred musical language. Arts and sciences join to bring hope for a better future.
Silentopia addresses the environmental crisis via live event at Revontulihalli and virtually on science blogs and social media platforms.
Premieres on April 14, 2022 at Espoo City Theatre as part of April Jazz festival.
WORKING GROUP
Director, choreographer Ninni Perko
Dance Jukka Tarvainen, Kaisa Niemi, Katri Soini, Tiia Hämäläinen
Movement material Ninni Perko and performers
Dramaturgical support Anna Krogerus
Music and composition Anni Elif Egecioglu, Jarmo Saari, Pauli Lyytinen
Sound design Paavo Malmberg
Dramaturgical support Anna Krogerus
Visualisation Alisha Davidow
Light design Ainu Palmu
Researchers Panu Pihkala, Unni Pulliainen, Jaakko Kaartinen and Marja Mesimäki
Graphic design Ville Tietäväinen
Photos Tanja Ahola
Photos from rehearsals Darina Rodionova
Producer Inari Pesonen
Trainees production Sirpa Suomalainen, costumes Juulia Järvinen
Partners Espoon seudun koulutuskuntayhtymä Omnia
Production Sivuun Ensemble ry, Espoo City Theatre, April Jazz Festival
Supporters Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation, Niilo Helander Foundation, Arts Promotion Center Finland, City of Helsinki, City of Espoo
Photo: Tanja Ahola