Might this watery adventure be an entry point to ultimate liberation?
Performance artist Dana Michel considers the ability to swim to be one of the ways in which we might embody self-trust and wonders why, despite many attempts at learning, she still cannot really feel at ease in the water. And what is it that holds back the majority of her family from swimming, despite hailing from an island that is surrounded by both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea? How safe can you feel in the world if you cannot float in the liquid that makes up a large part of your body?
After having her solos YELLOW TOWEL (2014), MERCURIAL GEORGE(2016), CUTLASS SPRING (2019), and MIKE (2023) shown in the frame of Moving in November, Michel returns to Helsinki with YOU CANNOT CAN, a new solo performance in a swimming pool. The performance takes place in the spa section of Hotel St. George, located in the heart of Helsinki by the Old Church Park. Surrounded by the audience, Michel wades inside global histories and socio-economic realities of swimming and safe access to water. She uses her kaleidoscopically curious approach to focus on how we might shake off fears.
The performance is part of Moving in November 5.–15.11.2026. As part of the festival, there will be an open Soup Talksdiscussion with Michel and local host on the 12th of November at noon in Caisa.
Artistic activators: Alex Samaras, Angélique Willkie, Heidi Louis, Karl Notargiovanni, Roscoe Michel, Sierra Holder, Silvy Panet-Raymond, Simon Couturier, Tracy Maurice, Yoan Sorin.
Scenographic consultant – Technical direction: Romain Guillet
Sound consultant: David Drury
Production: SCORP CORPS – Dana Michel, Viva Delorme.
Distribution: neon lobster – Giulia Messia & Katharina Wallisch
Co-production: Arsenic – Centre d’Art Scénique Contemporain (Lausanne, Switzerland), Bergen Internasjonale Teater (Bergen, Norway), Festival TransAmériques (Montréal, Canada), Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Brussels, Belgium), Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm (Frankfurt, Germany), MDT (Stockholm, Sweden), O Espaço do Tempo (Montemor-o-novo, Portugal), Tanzquartier Wien (Vienna).
The creation of this work was made possible thanks to the financial support of Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec and Conseil des Arts de Montréal.
Premiere May 9th, 2026, at Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Brussels, Belgium).
Photo: bozzo / Kinosaki International Arts Center, Toyooka City
Visit supported by: The Québec Government Office in London
Visit in collaboration with: Caisa, St. George Care spa
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