Call for performers! Janina Rajakangas Project: The Floor is Lava
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Janina Rajakangas Project: Floor Is Lava [Lattia on laavaa]
CHILD! Are you interested in performing in a contemporary dance piece alongside professional artists?
Choreographer Janina Rajakangas, together with the Regional Dance Centre of Ostrobothnia, is looking for 8–10-year-old children to take part in Floor Is Lava, a performance that will be presented 18–19 March 2026 at the Ostrobothnia Dances Festival on the Julia Stage of Vaasa City Theatre.
You can explore the project through a free workshop on Friday 21 November, 15:00–17:00.
Location: Kasarmi area sports hall, Artellikuja 4
Registration: reija.penttinen@pohjanmaantanssi.fi
Note: Advance registration required!
In the workshop, participants will get to know the process of creating a contemporary dance performance through dance, acting, and singing. At the end of the workshop, you may express your interest in joining the performance as a volunteer performer.
Floor Is Lava is a performance for primary school children and adults. It offers an opportunity to explore floods, heavy rains, and red sunsets through art.
Performers play drums, dance, and sing. Children build a fort, climb the structures of the sports hall, and embody extinct animals and extreme weather conditions.
The piece has been developed with professional dancers and children during art camps and workshops, where movement, dance, and rhythm provide tools for processing the changing world and creating connection with others.
The work premiered on 22 October 2025 at two primary schools in Helsinki in front of child audiences. It will also be performed at Tanssin talo’s Pannuhalli in March 2026 before its appearance at the Ostrobothnia Dances Festival in Vaasa.
Choreography and direction: Janina Rajakangas
On stage:Tashi Iwaoka, Maija Reeta Raumanni, Janne Aspvik, Mea Holappa, and children
Drummer: Janne Aspvik
Sound design: Tuuli Kyttälä
Lighting and spatial design: Katinka Ebbe
Costume design: Kirsi Gum
Production: Entirely Moved | Kaikki Liikkuu ry, Zodiak – Center for New Dance, and Annika Sillander
In collaboration with: Regional Dance Centre of Ostrobothnia, Regional Dance Centre of Western Finland, Reality Research Centre, and Annantalo
Supported by: Arts Promotion Centre Finland, City of Helsinki, Finnish Cultural Foundation, Svenska kulturfonden, Konstsamfundet, KulturÖsterbotten, Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation
REHEARSAL SCHEDULE – FLOOR IS LAVA
Ostrobothnia Dances Festival
Fri 21 Nov 2025
15:00–17:00
Kasarmi Halls
First LOL Workshop
(see call for participants)
At the end of the workshop, participants may sign up as volunteer performers in the piece.
Mon–Thu 23–26 Feb 2026
(week 9 – winter break)
13:00–16:00
Funkkis, Auditorium (3rd floor)
Art Camp
Volunteer child participants rehearse together with the artistic team for the performance.
The costume designer will also be present to try on costumes with the children.
Mon–Tue 16–17 Mar 2026
After school, for 3 hours
Funkkis, Auditorium (3rd floor)
Rehearsals with the artistic team
Volunteer child participants rehearse together with the artistic team for the performance.
Wed 18 Mar 2026
Afternoon / early evening
Vaasa City Theatre / Julia Stage
Dress rehearsal
Once the stage and participants are ready, a dress rehearsal will be held for an audience!
Small entrance fee.
Thu 19 Mar 2026
12:00
Vaasa City Theatre / Julia Stage
Day performance
Free of charge, for pupils of Hietalahti School only.
18:00
Vaasa City Theatre / Julia Stage
Evening performance
Ticketed performance, open to all.
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Category:
Työpajat