tender
hellänä - tender is a dance performance that stretches the boundaries of reality and weaves together movement, sound, and punk aesthetics to explore aging queer and trans peoples' experiences of care. The lived histories of different generations – knowledge of touch, closeness, and relationships – take bodily form on stage through dance and music as gestures of care and intimate everyday acts.
hellänä - tender brings to light dreamt realities and relationships: platonic, siblinglike, and even romantic. It presents care both as utopian vision and tender encounters, as well as the challenging moments of everyday life–when one is tires, in conflict, drifting apart, breaking up, and finding one another again. The piece invites the audience to consider how care can be personal, political, and collective at the same time.
The work is the culmination of the Reality Research Center's multi-year Queer Generations a community-art project (2023-2026), in which queer seniors perform and take part in different aspect of the creative process. The project builds community and a sense of belonging for queer and trans seniors through art workshops and art-based home visits. In addition, it hosts a variety of events that support intergenerational encounters.
Working Group
Direction & choreography: Eevi Tolvanen
Artistic dialogue & production: Riikka Lakea
Performers: Amos, Eero, Johanna, Julius, Kikka, Seppo Kiuru
Band: Anukatariina Saloheimo, SariKristiina Beck & Välly
Set design: Una Auri
Costume design: Angela Mugisha
Sound design: Nori Kin
Lighting design: Vilma Vantola
Production intern: Ren Salento
Mentoring, dramaturgical discussion: Olga Spyropoulou, Katja Kirsi, Marianne Savallampi
Production: Mad House Helsinki & Center for Reality Studies
Supporters: City of Helsinki, Kone Foundation, Arts Promotion Center Finland & Center for Reality Studies
Photo: Val Nevalainen
