Keijunta is a community dance piece in which the performers, under the guidance of The Fern Orchestra's artists, bring a lyrical dance essay to life. The performers, who have signed up through an open call, are united by their love for the seas.
The Fern Orchestra’s Valaankasvattaja project brings together actors from Southwest Finland to dance on behalf of the Archipelago Sea. Keijuminen (a neologism derived from keijusto, meaning “fairy-like drifting”) refers to the act of keijusto—microalgae—drifting freely with the water currents. Not floating, nor hovering – in between those two. Microalgae are photosynthetic organisms that form the foundation of the marine food chain. They sequester the carbon dioxide required for photosynthesis from the atmosphere, mitigating the effects of global warming while simultaneously producing oxygen. This algae produces half of all the oxygen on Earth.
The largest inhabitants of the oceans—whales—mix water masses as they rise to the surface to breathe. With global warming, surface water temperatures are rising, and water layers no longer mix naturally due to the temperature difference. This leads to a situation where the foundation of the marine ecosystem’s nutrient chain—phytoplankton production—will collapse within a hundred years. No keijusto –> no fish. Within a hundred years.
Valaankasvattaja is a term for a person who, despite experiencing environmental grief, is an active protector of the marine environment. In this project, research results will be interpreted for the people of Turku over the course of a week in June 2026. The event will feature not only research data but also the opportunity to discuss future seas with scientists and artists. A textile sculpture made of algae yarn, titled Keijusto, will be assembled at the Old Great Square, and anyone is welcome to come and crochet it. The week culminates in a community dance piece titled Keijunta. The project is based on research from Åbo Akademi University, “Modeling advanced primary production scenarios in coastal seas,” which uses evolutionary data obtained from microalgae to model the future.
Ticket proceeds from the Keijunta performance will be donated to nature conservation. There are four ticket categories from which anyone can choose their own; free tickets are also available. Watching the performance does not require language skills, and the content is suitable for a multilingual audience. The duration of the performance is approximately 40 minutes. The performance is viewed while standing.
The performance is part of an event from June 8th to 13th, 2026, at the Old Great Square.
Music Composition: Markus Heino
Concept: Vespa Laine
Costume Design: Jaakko Mäkinen
Algae Yarn Installation: The Working Group, the Hulvela Crafters, and other participants
Scientific Research: Riikka Puntila-Dodd and Conny Sjöqvist
Choreography and Dance: Ilona Salonen, Saara Isola, and Timo Tamminen
Performers: Includes various actors and private individuals from Southwest Finland.
The list of performers will be updated on the websites of The Fern Orchestra and the Turku City Theatre.