About the performance
Wakey-wakey is a contemporary dance performance which creates a psychedelic space
Wakey-wakey is a stage performance, which creates a psychedelic space that promotes transitions from one layer of the subconscious to another. The piece relies on songs and texts echoing the times of change, trance, love and death.
Wakey-wakey dives into the internal reality of the mind by using ritualistic structure. Awakening in the performance is to become aware of the streams of the subconscious: a noise that lies under everyday life and is only glimpsed in memories of nightly visions and lapses into reverie.
Wakey-wakey is like a revivalist movement that invites to wander into the shadowy realms of the mind.
The performance has some texts and songs in English.
The artists
Mikko Niemistö
Mikko Niemistö is a choreographer, performance artist and curator based in Helsinki and abroad. He has created solo works as well as multidisciplinary pieces that embody a dialogue between artistic disciplines. His works explore the relationship of the human body to its environment as well as our conscious and unconscious bodily connections to social structures.
Karolina Ginman
Karolina Ginman is a dancer and choreographer based in Helsinki. She is interested in the deeply sensed and thoroughly lived creative body that speaks its poetry beyond reason.
Johannes Vartola
Johannes Vartola is an artist and sound designer based in Helsinki. His work typically involves the philosophy of humanity’s relationship with nature and the politics of spaces and places. Vartola’s specialities are experimentalism, audience participation and documentary.
Justus Kantakoski
Justus Kantakoski is a fashion designer and performance artist whose mediums are contemporary art, handicraft, performance art and video art. Their work has been awarded in Finland as well as internationally.
Teo Lanerva
Teo Lanerva is a freelance lighting and video designed based in Helsinki, Finland. He works with contemporary performances, concerts and events ranging from small underground clubs to festivals. He has been granted a säde-award and his designs have been performed in more than ten countries.
Elina Lifländer
Elina Lifländer is a stage designer, spatial artist and lecturer at the University of the Arts Helsinki. Her artistic works are focused on experimental performances and installation art, where invisible mental spaces meet the performance space and its audience.
The team
Artistic concept: Mikko Niemistö
Choreography and songs: Mikko Niemistö together with Karolina Ginman
Performers: Karolina Ginman, Justus Kantakoski, Mikko Niemistö & Johannes Vartola
Texts: Mikko Niemistö
Costume and Knitwear designer: Justus Kantakoski
Pattern and Knitwear design: Emilia Kuurila
Sound design and live music: Johannes Vartola
Lighting design: Teo Lanerva
Spatial design: Elina Lifländer
Artistic dialogue: Jenni-Elina von Bagh
Producer: Mikko Niemistö and Kiasma Theatre
Residencies and collaboration: Ehkä-production / Kutomo, Alpo Aaltokoski Company
Supported by
Location and accessibility
Kiasma Theatre is located on the first floor, at the opposite end of the building from the main doors. The theatre has no numbered seats. Jackets and bags can be left to Kiasma’s cloakroom for free.
The top level of Kiasma Theatre is accessible. We recommend to contact Kiasma’s info before if a place for a weelchair is needed.
Contemporary live art