CHOREOGRAPHIC & PERFORMANCE WORK
WINTER JOURNEY
Winter Journey is a multidisciplinary performance that explores different concepts of winter and war through music, dance, science, and poetry. The piece invites the audience to dwell in temporality and timelessness, to sense and marvel at the arcs of meditation.
The artistic team draws inspiration from sources such as Aristotle, Plato, Stephen Hawking, Syksy Räsänen, Hans Op de Beeck’s Silent Parade, and Schubert’s Winterreise (Winter Journey), from which the performance also takes its name.
Composer Paola Livorsi’s new work, Songs of Winter and War, enters into dialogue with earlier composers J. S. Bach, Arvo Pärt, and Astor Piazzolla. These masterpieces are heard in new arrangements — not with the accustomed instruments. In this way, we seek new pathways and approaches to listening, encouraged by Aristotle’s thought: “Another name for time is change.”
In January 2023, Pia Freund and photographer Terho Aaltonen travelled to the island of Jurmo for a photography expedition. These images — landscapes echoing ancient times, with their moraine heaths — create a fascinating and beautiful frame for the music and dance.
Seela Sella – poetry
Ada Freund – dance
Pia Freund – vocals and singing
Anthony Marini – viola d’amore/Mikko Perkola, viola da gamba
Henrik Sandås – bandoneon
Paola Livorsi – composer
Terho Aalto – photography
Costume design - Teijan Ompelimo
Performances:
2.11.2025 Porin Telijän Kirkko
14.11.2025 Kouvolan Kirkko
16.11.2025 Janakkalan Pyhän Laurin Kirkko
JOURNEY TO HAMPAMPAM (touring piece)
Dance theater piece Journey to Hampampam is based on author Ville Hytönen’s children’s book The Land Called Hampampam (Tammi, 2023). The book is illustrated by Marja-Liisa Plats.
The stories highlight equality, the importance of communication, and empathy. The world of the book is written in a fascinating, nonsense-inspired poetic language; according to the author, many of its expressions come directly from children’s own words – which makes it full of surprising twists.
Dance and theatre engage in dialogue with the tales, creating a bubbling and joyful dance experience for the whole family!
Ada Freund, artistic direction, dancer, costume design
Johanna Spies, dancer
Francis Maskens, dancer
Mari-Helen Hyvärinen, actress
Taina-Maaria Rautasuo, producer
Toured in Northern Finland 14-23.9.2025
Supported by
Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Samuel Huber Art Foundation, Dance Theatre Hurjaruuth, Stiftelsen Kvarteret Victoria, Vantaa Dance Institute
ONCE I WAS A BIRD - AND OTHER ATTEMPTS
Solo work Once I Was a Bird – and Other Attempts explores the fine line between illusion and reality, deconstructing the expected by imaginary worlds. Do we consciously choose to dream and imagine, or are we simply carried by instinct?
Through the character's desires and journeys, Once I was a bird - and other attempts navigates freedom through absurdity, creating a space where illusion becomes the purpose.
The introspective texts written by Ada Freund serve as the core of the work; reaching for dreams that don't exist yet, through desires of the character’s journey, the work reaches towards a sense of freedom. Navigating the complexity of existence, Freund embodies the absurd and the irrational, where meeting with oneself and others is possible through dreams and wishes.
DANCE/ CHOREOGRAPHY / CONCEPT: Ada Freund
SUPPORTED BY: Finnish Cultural Foundation, Routa Company residency and Hämeenlinnan Tanssin Tehdas ry
Performed: 3.8.2025 at Tehdas Tanssii Festival, Hämeenlinna, FI
ÉMILIE
Émilie is an opera by composer Kaija Saariaho and librettist Amin Maalouf, which premiered at the Lyon Opera in 2010. In Finland, the work was last performed at the Finnish National Opera in 2015. The work tells the story of the last days of the French scientist Émilie du Châtelet. Its themes include love between a man and a woman, as well as the love of knowledge and truth. Saariaho was fascinated by Émilie du Châtelet's contradictions and her vast achievements at a time when women were only expected to marry well.
Émilie du Châtelet's life is about science, which is philosophy and reason, which is emotional. Perhaps a great opera can indeed be performed about her, which is also an intimate experience. – Aleksi Barrière
The one-act opera has nine scenes. There are 32 artists on stage at the same time: a chamber orchestra, including a harpsichordist, a conductor, two dancers and two singers. The composition uses electronics throughout the piece.
Pia Freund & Meeri Pulakka, sopranos
Janne Marja-aho & Ada Freund, dance and choreography
Sanni Antikainen, harpsichord
Avanti! Chamber Orchestra
Allisa Neige Barrière, conductor
Aleksi Barrière, stage direction, dramaturgy, video
Étienne Exbrayat, set and lighting design
Timo Kurkikangas, sound design
Satu Muurinen, costume design
Teija Paananen, tayloring
Alisa Kaksonen, hair and makeup
Production by Kokonainen, Avanti!, Dialogia! -festivaali ry
Linda Suolahti, artistic curator, executive producer
Sera Syvänen, project coordinator
Anni Kallioniemi, media manager
SECRETS OF THE ATTIC
Four children meet in a mysterious attic. What magical treasures will they uncover? And what is that curious rustling sound - where is it coming from?
Secrets of the Attic is a playful dive into the magnificent world of imagination. The characters find objects that take them to curious journey through the attic. Enchanting dance theatre piece explores themes of siblinghood, togetherness, and the wonder of the imagination. Secrets of the Attic invites audiences of all ages on a whimsical journey through the unexpected.Step into the attic and let the adventure begin!
Choreography and direction: Ada Freund
Costume and scenography: Ada Freund
Performers:
Ada Freund
Andrea Aguado Martin
Julie Pollet
Johanna Spies
SUPPORTED BY:
DIALOGIA! -FESTIVAL (FI) & ALLI PAASIKIVI FOUNDATION (FI)
Past & upcoming performances
8.11.2025
Children’s Saturday, Cultural Center Näkkäri, Salo, FINLAND
7.11.2025
Malmitalo, Helsinki
18.03.2025
Children’s cultural center Aurora, Espoo, FINLAND
16.03.2025
Children’s cultural center Färi, Timantti-teatteri, Turku, FINLAND
14.4.2024
Hämeenlinna Theater, Dialogia! -festivaali, FINLAND
TAKAUMA - FLASHBACK
In the short film Takauma, an eye-catching black and white image and a layered soundscape are combined with the bodily expressions of two dancers Ada Freund and Tanja Kunnari. The aesthetics of the film have been reduced to resemble a black and white living woodcut. Aalto's chosen style of expression also brings the landscape to life. In the film, the line moves as in a living woodcut, breathing life into even a lifeless landscape. A sense of movement in the landscape. The dancers protect the secret within themselves and are faced with the need for others to learn everything about them. No matter how hard we try to keep secrets, we can't always do it. The dancers seek connection with each other, but are left alone. A flashback is a relived feeling of something that has already happened, an involuntarily experienced memory of the past. The video work moves through many different worlds: from the archetypal Finnish lake landscape to the cacophonous cityscape of the Lisbon metropolitan area, as well as to human inner conflicts and the spectrum of emotions.
Premiered at Ars-Häme exhibition summer 2025
Concept, film and editing: Terho Aalto
Choreography and performers: Ada Freund & Tanja Kunnari
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1114632029
ALTERNATIVE SPACES FOR EMPATHY
‘IT’S THICK, IT’S ELASTIC, IT’S SOFT AND DELICATE. ENGLOBING, IT WELCOMES ME TO BE OPEN.'
Rooted in the matter of kinesthetic empathy, ‘alternative spaces for empathy' seeks to create a space that invites to embrace the connection, the agency and the communication within oneself and others, in an era that pushes away from these significant values.
Through the investigation of kinesthetic empathy, the project researches how bodily impulses generate communication and shared experiences, fostering a deeper awareness of empathy and embodied communication as pathways to authentic connection.
Kinesthetic empathy refers to the kinesphere that surrounds the physical body and investigates the theme of affection, questioning
how individuals can maintain agency within embodiment while remaining connected to others. It examines how embodiment fosters genuine, fluid dialogue between bodies and affection as well as the autonomy to determine how external influences affect us.
Moreover, this research places emphasis on the physical dimension of experience, highlighting the importance of body awareness and
the ability to connect with the bodily experiences of others. Every relationship emerges from encounters with others, contributing to a
sense of togetherness and through the practice of exchange, individuals learn about others and how their presence influences the surroundings.
‘alternative spaces for empathy' generates a space to touch and be touched: How do we touch, and how do we want
to be touched? When am I allowed to touch? How can we be touched without physicality? Do we need touch?
DANCE AND CHOREOGRAPHY: Ada Freund & Chiara Consiglio
Supported by: ada studios Berlin
SEPT PAPILLONS
Duet performance for movement and cello, based on Kaija Saariaho's piece 'Sept Papillons'. Through these miniatures of seven butterflies, Saariaho moved to a metaphor of the ephemeral.
Each part seem to be a studies on a different aspect of fragile and ephemeral movement that has no beginning or end.
Dance and choreography: Ada Freund
Cello: Joanna Hanhikoski
PERFORMANCES:
15.8.2024 Taiteiden Yö, hietsun Paviljonki
17.8.2024 Dialogia! Ihan Pihalla!
EDITH!
EDITH! is a performance based on the poet Edith Södergran, her life and diverse poetry. In the multidisciplinary work, through Södergran' s production, the social and cultural atmosphere of her time is explored through dance, poetry and music.
Edith Södergran belongs to the most in the area of poetry and opened the ways to see world differently; the Queer world was something Edith actively brought up in their work. The movement language communicates with both theater and music, bringing the brightness of Edith's life and work alive.
Performers:
Suvi Blick
Johanna Spies
Ada Freund
Pia Freund
Louna Hosia
Taina-Maaria Rautasuo
Performances:
10.5.2024 at Fyyri, Kirkkonummi (FI)
12.5.2024 at Hämeenlinnan Palokunnantalo (FI)
12.3.2025 at Porvoon Taidetehdas (FI)
JOURNEY TO HAMPAMPAM
Children's dance theater piece 'Journey to Hampampam' is based on a book called 'Land called Hampampam' by author Ville Hytönen. Poetic language, and its illustrations are full of surprises that invites imagination to travel to absurd, new worlds.
The stories emphasize equality, the importance of communication and empathy. Dance and theater communicate with the book's fairy tales, forming a bubbly dance experience for the whole family!
Choreography: Ada Freund
Performers: cie.acompagniada (Julie Pollet, Andrea Aguado Martin, MJ Cardantas, Chloé Chardevel, Ulke Zeelmaekers), Dance Theater Tanssivarpaat (FI) and actress Mirjami Heikkinen
Scenography and costume design: Ada Freund
HÄMEENLINNA CITY THEATER 14.4.2024 & 10.5.2025
COMMISIONED BY DIALOGIA! -FESTIVAL
SYMBIOSIS
's y m b i o s i s' delves into the exploration of care as a foundational element of human existence, driven by the innate desire for connection and intimacy. Through an investigation of kinesthetic empathy, the project researches how bodily impulses facilitate communication, storytelling, and shared experiences, fostering a deeper awareness of empathy and embodied communication as pathways to authentic connection. Within the framework of intimacy, the project follows two characters on a journey marked by honesty, vulnerability, trust, and delicacy, discovering strength in unity.
Choreography, concept and performance: Ada Freund & Chiara Consiglio
Sound design: COS MOS - Ernesto Cretella, Daniele Paradiso
Premiere: 23.6.2024, Cultural House Marita (FI)
Other performances: 2.8.2024 Tehdas tanssii (FI)
3.8.2024 Penthouse collective(FI)
9.8.2024 Sagra Futuro (IT)
FORGOTTEN ROCKS
It was the same as yesterday -
the details of hidden place gave us comfort
It was the same as before -
we wondered how the dusty air was flying
It was same as yesterday -
It was the same as the other day -
the play passed by and tickled us
It was the same -
it was not there any longer
It was the same as other times -
this solitude we knew
Fragilely sinking, something was missing. Only there was nothing waiting.
Five creatures, living in an abandoned place, the childlike curiosity keeps them away from reality. Wondering, they enjoy being lost. In this chaotic and complex place they find comfort for themselves. Through memories and sensations, they float in timelessness. Finding no way out, they play and encounter sisterhood. Through the journey they return to the beginning, to the solitude that is always present. This solitude that makes us to seek for connection and togetherness. On the contrary, this solitude makes has an apocalyptic effect to the world that the characters are living in. These sensations takes them to the timeless space where the direction has been lost.
Concept and choreography: Ada Freund
Performers: Julie Pollet, Ulke Zeelmaekers, MJ Cardantas, Andrea Aguado Martin, Chloé Chardevel
Costume and scenography: Ada Freund
Sound design: Ada Freund
THE FURTHEST POINT
“I want to share this emptiness with you. Not fill the silence with false notes or put tracks through the void. I want to share this wilderness of failure. The others have built you a highway- fast lanes in both directions. I offer you a journey without direction, uncertainty and no sweet conclusion. When the light faded, I went in search of myself. There were many paths and many destinations” (Derek Jarman, 1990)
Fifteen bodies spill into space, negotiating and seeking solutions. From nowhere to nowhere, how can they move forward with no directions?What is left to hold on to?
Choreography: Jean Abreu