Pulkkinen: Superhero – Representative of an Ultra-Rare Species
“I am like a paper doll. Two-dimensional. I can’t perceive the space behind me. When I put my foot back, it disappears. Do others feel like this too? Nothing is the same anymore. I feel like I’m about to die all the time. I cling to life tooth and nail. The world has changed, but I am no longer the same either.”
Superhero – Representative of an Ultra-Rare Species is a dance piece that brings to light the sensations and experiences arising from difficult life situations.
When the body stops obeying and its outlines fade away, the long journey of the Superhero begins. The piece presents a range of relatable emotions on stage, addressing slow rehabilitation, fear of death, feelings of alienation and helplessness, as well as the experience of being carried by others. Despite its serious themes, the work is permeated by hope, exuberance, and a strong sense of community.
The piece tells a story of hope and of second chances. It is an autofictional survival narrative of a protagonist who fell ill with an ultra-rare neurological disease, following the path from falling ill to the return of hope and visibility. The work was created in response to the need for peer support in the face of a life crisis. Despite its themes, it is not just one person’s tale of suffering, but a universal story about the positive force that sustains life. The dancer in the piece is Elli Pulkkinen.
The idea of Superhero grew out of Pulkkinen’s experiences as a neurological rehabilitation patient between 2018–2021, and as a dance artist working in institutional settings between 2015–2022. In 2018, Pulkkinen fell seriously ill and, due to aggressive spinal cord inflammation, lost her ability to move. Through more than two years of multidisciplinary rehabilitation, she learned again how to walk, jump, and dance—and above all, how to process a traumatic experience.
The performance is in Finnish.
Performances
- Friday 3.10. at 7 pm
- Saturday 4.10. at 3 pm
Duration approx. 50 minutes.
Venue
Studio Liikelaituri, Yliopistonkatu 58 D, 33100 Tampere
Tickets
- 20 e | Basic ticket
- 10 e | Discounted ticket
(students, pensioners, unemployed, performing arts professionals) - 10 e | Wheelchair ticket + assistant ticket
+ 2-2,50 e Lippuagentti handling fee
Tickets are also available at the door.
Working group
- Performance and Original Concept: Elli Pulkkinen
- Artistic Collaboration and Ideation: Anne-Maarit Kinnunen
- Sound Design: Joni Vanhanen
- Lighting Design: Lasse Saari
- Light and sound technician: Jaani Leinonen
- Photography: Jani Salonen
Recommended age: 12+.
The performance visit is organized in collaboration with the Pirkanmaa Dance Centre and the Regional Dance Center of Central Finland.
Elli Pulkkinen is a dance artist based in Central Finland who has worked extensively in a variety of communities. Her artistic practice is guided by participatory methods and the aim of increasing accessibility in the arts. Pulkkinen’s interests include exploring the interface between performer and audience, as well as striving for dialogue with spectators. Pulkkinen graduated from the Theatre Academy’s Department of Dance and Theatre Pedagogy.
Anne-Maarit Kinnunen is a dance artist working broadly in the fields of contemporary dance and performance art as a performer, choreographer, and producer. Kinnunen’s work focuses on multidisciplinary projects and on combining artistic and pedagogical approaches. Kinnunen graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Trinity Laban in 2006 and has since performed on both Finnish and international stages, including in Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal.
