Ghosts of Rosegarden (2026)
Ghosts of Rosegarden is a big stage piece for eight dancers and five musicians by interdisciplinary dance artist Elina Pirinen.
Ghosts of Rosegarden is an expressive fairy tale about a garden brimming with libidinal wonders. There, seven ecstatic wildlings, a mother and her dead cat, a hot string quartet and an amorous bassoonist stop each other’s blood and burst the air out of one another.
They blossom, engage in cheerful perversions and sacrifice themselves day and night at their otherworldly, never-ending barbecue parties. They grill dust and lava, serving up delicious new prophecies. They embrace trauma-islands inherited from their ancestors, scratch the writing of love with the thorns of roses, and chase prayers into the azure blue of the sky.
Deep in the back of the garden wanders the cycle of destruction and creativity.
The piece performs boisterous autopsies and twists the plots of the past and current narratives of sacrifice.
The large-scale stage work Ghosts of Rosegarden is performed by eight international dancers, Felix Urbina Alejandre, Simone Lorenzo Benini, Elias Berglund, Karolina Ginman, Age Linkmann, Julia Mäkelä and Arolin Raudva alongside string quartet Terhi Paldanius, Reeta Maalismaa, Hanna Hohti and Joasia Cieslak and bassoonist Antti Salovaara from the Finnish Avanti! Chamber Orchestra.
The work is envisioned, choreographed, and written by multidisciplinary dance artist Elina Pirinen. The music is composed by Ville Kabrell. The dramaturgy is by stage artist Ami Karvonen, with spatial and lighting design by Mateus Manninen. The costumes are designed by fashion designer Antrea Kantakoski, and the live cinema is created by film and stage artist Jakob Öhrman.
Elina Pirinen and her working group’s style is known for bringing together “high art” and “folk art.” Rooted in female specific experience, their work engages with the appalling while remaining luminous. It moves between the subconscious, the humorous, the divine, and the primal; between ritual, riot, and mysticism. Pirinen is interested in a world that can only be reached through the synthesis of corporeality, live music, and stage.
The work is an international co-production. Ghosts of Rosegarden will premiere at the main stage of the Dance House Helsinki, before travelling in October to the Sõltumatu Tantsu Festival (STF) in Tallinn and Dansens Hus in Stockholm.
Direction, choreographical practice, libretto: Elina Pirinen
Composer, sound designer: Ville Kabrell
Lighting and space designer: Mateus Manninen
Dramaturge: Ami Karvonen
Costume design: Antrea Kantakoski
Live camera concept and direction: Jakob Öhrman
Dancers: Simone Benini (IT), Elias Berglund (FI), Karolina Ginman (FI), Age Linkmann (EE), Julia Mäkelä (FI), Arolin Raudva (EE), Felix Urbina (MX), feat. Elina Pirinen (FI)
Avanti! chamber orchestra:
Violin: Reeta Maalismaa, Terhi Paldanius
Viola: Hanna Hohti
Cello: Joasia Cieslak
Bassoon: Antti Salovaara
Choreographer’s assistant and rehearsal director: Vera Tegelman
Lighting and spacial design assistant: Rasmus Strandell
Sound technician: Riku Vuorensola
Participating in the process: Alina Pilecka
Outside eye: Heidi Väätänen & Carmen Mehnert
Producer: Tommi Kokkonen
Fundraising, partnerships: Maija Eränen
Administration: Outi Järvinen / Arts Management Helsinki
Distribution: Zodiak – Center for New Dance & Plan B – Creative office for Performing Arts
Photos: Venla Helenius
Videoteaser: Mateus Manninen
Supported by: Arts Council Finland, Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, New Classics Fund, Erasmus+, Nordic Culture Point
Residency support: Estonian Embassy in Helsinki, Estonian Ministry of Culture
Co-production: Zodiak – Center for New Dance (Finland), Sõltumatu Tantsu Lava (Estonia), Dansens Hus (Sweden), BIT Bergen Internasjonale Teater (Norway), Libidian Wonders (Finland), Avanti! chamber orchestra (Finland)
World premiere:
6th – 10th October 2026 | Erkko Hall, Dance House Helsinki, Finland
Touring:
16th – 17th October 2026 | Von Krahl, Sõltumatu Tantsu Fest, Tallinn, Estonia
30th – 31st October 2026 | Dansens Hus Stockholm, Sweden
2027 | BIT Bergen Internasjonale Teater, Norway