by 
“Please don’t cook fish or smoke in the laundry room, thank you.”
Combining contemporary dance, aerial acrobatics, and physical comedy, Naapuri takes a peek into the parallel lives of people living in an apartment building. The performance brings to the viewer’s doorstep a recognizable and delightful neighborhood and its lovable and tiresome residents. Through encounters between neighbors, painful perspectives on broader social issues of our time, such as hierarchies, changes in solidarity, and belonging, are revealed.
The themes of the work are based on research on neighborhoods and suburbs, and the material used consists of real notes left on apartment building bulletin boards. The neighbors seek opportunities for empathy and the limits of tolerance as rules are formed—as well as those moments when the absurdities of everyday life become the norm. In the work, the absurd situations of everyday life charmingly blur the boundaries between black humor and poetic expression.
The Neighbour reveals the ridiculous, painful, and beautiful core of living in the same building — where rule boards and life collide.
Direction, choreography Ninni Perko
Choreographer’s assistant Jenni Kallo
Performers Inga Björn, Jukka Tarvainen, Saku Mäkelä, Krista-Julia Arppo
Music Jarmo Saari
Music mixing Paavo Malmberg
Visualization Mirkka Nyrhinen
Lighting design Jaakko Sirainen
Experts Pekka Tuominen, Saara Moisio
Dramaturgical support Riikka Laakso
Promo photos Tanja Ahola
Teaser Darina Rodionova
Producers Juliane Mikkonen, Sari Laakso
Production Sivuun Ensemble ry, Kallo Collective
Residencies Cirko – Center for New Circus
Supporters: Arts Promotion Centre Finland, City of Helsinki, Finnish Cultural Foundation, Kone Foundation, Töölön kaupunginosat – Töölö ry, Hietsun Paviljonki.
Premiere at Cirko – Center for New Circus on Oct24th 2025.
The work is a collaboration between Dance Theater Sivuun Ensemble and contemporary circus group Kallo Collective.
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Performances: Jan28th–Feb1st 2026 Cultural Centre Valve, Valvesali
Tickets from: Cultural Centre Valve ticket office, Ticketmaster.fi
Tickets: 25/20/15€ (+ Ticketmaster ticketing costs) A limited number of Kaikukortti-tickets are available
Venue: Cultural Centre Valve, Hallituskatu 7
Age recommendation: Adults and children aged 12+
Duration: 70 min
The performance is accessible. The performance is suitable for viewers of all languages.
Please note: Theater smoke is used in the performance!
