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In this fascinating double-bill evening Finnish and Japanese contemporary circus meet in the most interesting way. The audience will see two amazing shows: ATLAS by Ilmatila that combines animation and aerial acrobatics and INVERTED TREE BY Hisashi Watanabe that skirts the boundaries between contemporary dance and juggling.
Atlas is a family-friendly mix of contemporary circus, animation and architecture that combines Ilona Jäntti’s aerial acrobatics with Tuula Jeker’s projections. The suprising performance paints a picture about understanding and perceiving the world: how directions and scales change when some element is in an unexpected position. At the same time, Atlas is a story about fleeting yet meaningful encounters from the far reaches of space to the depths of the seas.
Hisashi Watanabe has emerged on the Japanese performing arts scene like a shooting star with a new type of performance that skirts the boundaries between contemporary dance and juggling, which he calls “Floor Juggling.” Watanabe´s performance displays his unique physicality, combining amazing flexibility and control of his body.
Hisashi tells about his performance: “When I was little, I used to walk on all fours around the town at night. Climbing on the fences and poles, jumping off, and holding my breath not to be found by passersby. I was thinking how to trace back from the tip of the evolutionary tree to its root. And now, I’m trying how to be an animal with the human body. I think neoteny, the form we acquired during our evolution, the ability to keep the many possibilities without specializing, encourages us to search and discover the unknown. It might be the tolerance of the species that can reserve insignificant elements.”
ATLAS
Concept, choreography and performance: Ilona Jäntti
Concept, script and animation: Tuula Jeker
Lighting design: Kauri Klemelä
Sound design: Saku Kämäräinen
Photo: Gian Luca
Production by Ilmatila
INVERTED TREE
Choreography and performance: Hisashi Watanabe
Photo: Takahisa Yasuta
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Performances
tue 5.10. at 19
wed 6.10. at 10 & 13:30
thu 7.10. at 10 & 13:30
Venue
Cultural Centre Valve, Valvehall
Hallituskatu 7
Tickets
Normal 28€
Retired 22€
Students, unemployed, kids under 16 years, military and civil service conscript 17€
Theatre and dance workers 17€
Limited amount of Kaikukortti tickets are available for Flow Circus shows.
Prices include handling fees. No handling fees at Valve Ticket Office.
Ticket sales
Valve Ticket Office, Hallituskatu 7
Ticketmaster.fi
Age recommendation
Adults and youth 7+
Duration
1h 15min, including 20min. intermission
Accessibility
Valve is accessible without barriers through the Hallituskatu-side entrance; the automatic doors open with a sensor. The ticket office is located in the lobby; the ticket counter is high, with an induction loop available. The accessible restroom is located in the basement. There is barrier-free access to the Valve hall, which also has an induction loop.
More information is available on the Cultural Centre Valve website kulttuurivalve.fi. The organizer reserves the right to make changes.
Non-verbal performance, suitable for viewers of all languages.
Oulu is the European Capital of Culture for the year 2026. Double-bill evening is part of the Oulu2026 cultural programme and cultural climate change.
