Celebration

Premiere 29.8.2026 | other performances 2.9.–4.12.2026.

Born of the power of dance and live music, Celebration delves into the deepest layers of humanity.

The work takes the audience on a journey through life’s most meaningful moments, examines the all-encompassing brutality of human nature, and celebrates the sense of community sparked by the solidarity movement.

Inspired by the songs of Violeta Parra, the two-act production Celebration transforms into lived experience, dance, movement and a series of dreamlike, surreal scenes. A colourful stream of images. A celebration of life.

Contemporary dance, live music and striking lighting and costume design create a hypnotic and captivating dance theatre experience.

The lobby bar is open one hour before the performances and during the interval.

Celebration marks the start of Dance Theatre MD’s 30th anniversary year. Over the past 30 years, MD has produced a staggering total of 99 premieres, attracting a total audience of 323,990. Celebration is MD’s 100th premiere production.

***

The Nocturnal Happening Thu 6.8. (Tapahtumien yö)

During the Tampere Theatre Festival as part of the Nocturnal Happening you may experience a 15 minute teaser from the upcoming piece.

Performance Thu 6.8. at 4.30 pm at Finlayson Art Area, Finlaysoninkuja 9, Kutomosali 3 (4.krs). Free entry. Read more.

Artist Biographies

Ari Numminen is a dancer and choreographer with a long and distinguished career. He began his career as a dancer with Raatikko and the Helsinki City Theatre dance group, and established himself as a choreographer with his solo works Herttarouva and Tiikerinpoika in the 1980s.

Over the years, he has created numerous choreographies for dance companies, theatres and opera houses throughout Finland. He has also worked as a dance teacher, lecturer and a regional artist (läänintaiteilija). For Dance Theatre MD, Numminen has choreographed, among others, Hääkeikka (1998), Carmen ja ihmisten kaupunki (2002) and Triumfi (2013).

—

Tiina Helin is choreographer Ari Numminen’s longest-standing collaborator. Together, they have developed a shared visual vision since 2000. Helin’s distinctive style can be seen in most of Numminen’s works. She is Costume Manager and Costume Designer at the Tampere University Theatre Arts (Näty).

—

Singer-songwriter and actor Minja Koski, who performs under the artist name M, is known for her distinctive pop music and versatile work across music and the performing arts. M was nominated for an Emma Award in 2019, 2022 and 2024.

More information about Minja: m-official.fi

—

Petri Tiainen is a musician, composer and music educator, known as the keyboardist of the band YUP. He has also had a long career as a conductor at the Kuopio and Joensuu City Theatres, as well as working as a freelance theatre and church musician.

—

Tuomas Luukkonen is a musician working across pop music, alternative rock, theatre and dance. He is known, among other things, as the guitarist of Ville Leinonen & Valumo and as a member of Motelli Skronkle.

Read about Dance Theatre MD people here.