Summer is finally here! And with it, summer events and festivals with dance and circus programs. Choose your favorites and get tickets now!
Tampere Flamenco Week, June 27 – July 1
Tampere Flamenco Week is the oldest flamenco festival in the Nordic countries. The program includes music and dance performed by both domestic and international flamenco artists and enthusiasts. Workshops and courses are an important part of the festival. The festival’s main performer, the Spanish group Los Girasoles, will be visiting Finland for the first time.
Full Moon Dance Festival, July 20–22
The Full Moon Dance Festival is a three-day event this summer, brought to life by talented domestic artists. After two major international festivals, it’s time to gather resources for the next larger-scale event: there won’t be any big international guests this year.
The highlight of this summer is Kuplat-Juhlat (Bubble Celebration), a magical multidisciplinary spectacle that blurs the boundaries between performance, concert and celebration, lasting for 4.5 hours. Additionally, the festival features an evening dedicated to dance films, discussions, instant dance moments, as well as the interplay between movement and drawing.
Salo Circus Festival, July 28–30
Salo Circus Festival will be celebrated for the fifth time at the end of July. Circus vans will take over the Salo Market Square, while a crossover of chansons and techno music fills the air. Over the course of four days, performances can also be enjoyed inside the tent of the group Circus I Love You.
ESSE festival for performing arts, July 29
The ESSE festival for performing arts will take place for the third time in Seurasaari, Helsinki. The festival brings together artists and art lovers in a unique way where performing arts meet with nature and the museum environment harmoniously.
The festival programme includes the internationally known magician Robert Jägerhorn’s and theremin pioneer Susanna Viljanmaa’s performance, Arctic Ensemble’s sailing streetshow Adrift, contemporary dance performance BUSKING by the multidisciplinary ensemble TARGET Helsinki – and many other masters of the performing arts.
Tampere Theatre Festival, August 7–13: Circus Program
In Tampere, in August, you can see the beloved, joyful performance Receptionists by Kallo Collective, as well as the daring piece Yé! by the Guinean group Circus Baobab.
Kallo Collective’s Receptionists is a physical comedy featuring two receptionists who try to navigate a day at work in the hospitality industry as professionals in a five-star hotel, dealing with all the associated tasks.
Circus Baobab’s Yé! (Water!) from Guinea tells the story of humanity’s ability to invent and start anew. This energetic and physical performance invites us to build a tomorrow’s world where we take care of nature and its future.
Multi Bueno Festival / Kai Kuutamo performing on the street © Christoffer Collina
Multi Bueno Festival, August 13
The Multi Bueno Festival brings touring street circus performers to Old Great Square of Turku in August. Throughout the day, there will be rope skipping tricks, daring flips on a springboard, impressive duo acrobatics, silent comedy, aerial acrobatics, and much more.
The event is open to all and free of charge. However, the audience is kindly requested to observe the international practice: at the end of enjoying a street performance, it is customary to make a generous donation to the performer as a gesture of appreciation.
Le Petit Festival, Hanko, August 17–20
Le Petit Festival features, among other things, a dance film workshop by TARGET Helsinki, aimed at young people. TARGET Helsinki will also present a site-specific contemporary dance piece called BUSKING.
Circo Aereo’s and Red Nose Company’s performance Catwalk, on the other hand, explores the act of being on display. The performance brings to light contradictions related to the fashion industry, while doing so with enjoyment and playful versatility.
Risa’s piece GLG is a surreal journey that blends contemporary dance and contemporary circus. On the stage, two individuals collide, entangle, and release themselves from their own, each other’s, and the environment’s boundaries.
Helsinki Festival, August 17–September 3
During the Helsinki Festival, two contemporary dance performances will be featured. Tiia Kasurinen’s ONSTAGE – The Concert draws inspiration from pop stars, club concerts and stage alter egos – and especially from the femmes of the music industry who have harnessed the audience’s gaze.
Pina Bausch’s The Rite of Spring, visiting the festival, depicts a ritual human sacrifice required for winter to turn into spring. Having premiered in 1975, the work is based on the music composed by Igor Stravinsky, which shook cultural circles in 1913. At Helsinki Festival, The Rite of Spring will be performed by ensemble of more than 30 dancers from 14 different African countries.