Programme: Can’t get ____ out of my head
A transcultural dance performance that investigates a Malaysian traditional game, Congkak (mental calculation), as a vocabulary/choreographic tool.
First pick up, then plant your stones one by one into the holes of the wooden game board. Count carefully where to start to be able to capture as much as possible in your home at the end.
What is your strategy? Do you have one?
The performance plays with the rules of the game, turns them into movement, rhythm, and an immediate presence within the surrounding space. Can you figure out the rules? Do you need them in order to play? The choreographic challenge is shared with the performers, who continuously engage in ever-changing variations and inventions, expanding the movement as far as they can.
Cindy Ng is a Western-trained choreographer who explores transcultural performance by bringing together five contemporary dancers and Congkak, Malaysia’s traditional two-player board game.
Working group
- Concept, Direction, and Choreographer: Cindy Ng (Master’s programme in Choreography) in collaboration with the working group
- Performers: Alma Äijö, Eero Tahkola, Lydia Ponkiniemi, Saara Milton (Degree programme in Dance) & Aurora Suhonen (Master’s programme in Dance Performance)
- Dramaturge: Maija Nousiainen (Master’s programme in Comparative Dramaturgy and Performance Research)
- Sound Designer: Eetu Holopainen (Degree programme in Sound Design)
- Lighting Designer: Isla Purtilo (Master’s programme in Lighting Design)
- Scenographer: Viivi Tamminen (Master’s programme in Scenography)
- Costume Designer: Janina Vuorivaara (Master’s programme in Costume Design at Aalto ARTS)
Support services for artistic activities at the Theatre Academy
- Stage manager: Eemeli Melvasalo
- Lighting: Ville Halkonen & Titus Torniainen
- Sound: Heikki Laakso
- Costume: Mervi Palo, Havina Jäntti, Laura Anttila & the Costume department of Theatre Academy
- Props: Saima Lahtinen
- AV: Jyrki Oksaharju
- Production coordinator: Rosa Sedita
- Producer: Riikka Lakea
- Promo picture: Viivi Tamminen
- Poster: Viivi Tamminen & Isla Purtilo
- Photography: Roosa Oksaharju
- Programme: Jaana Forsström
In collaboration with
Master’s Degree Programme in Costume Design: Performing Arts and Film at Aalto ARTS, the School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Bouldering rocks sponsored by Eclipse Presas.
The catering at the premiere and Congkak generously provided by the Embassy of Malaysia in Helsinki.
Supervising teachers
- Kirsi Monni (choreography)
- Jana Unmüssig (choreography)
- Maria Saivosalmi (dance & dance performance)
- Mikko Niemistö (dance & dance performance)
- Luca Sirviö (lighting design)
- Tom Lönnqvist (sound design)
- Elina Lifländer (scenography)
- Siru Kosonen (costume design)
- Emil Santtu Uuttu (dramaturgy)
Thank you!
- Eclipse Presas
- Embassy of Malaysia in Helsinki
Performance times
- Sat 23.5.2026 at 17:15
- Mon 25.5.2026 at 17:45
- Tue 26.5.2026 at 18:30
- Wed 27.5.2026 at 16:15
- Thu 28.5.2026 at 19:15
Venue
Theatre Academy, Studio 4, Haapaniemenkatu 6, Helsinki
Duration
35 min.
Course description
The Artistic Collaboration Projects (ACO) brings together students from seven Uniarts and Aalto University degree programs. Over a period of five weeks, the students have explored and practiced artistic collaboration in performances based on movement and choreography. The process culminates in performances of all five works during the last week of May.
During the artistic collaboration project (ACO) students work primarily within the current framework of contemporary dance and performance, in multidisciplinary artistic working groups.
ACO is a collaborative project involving the Theatre Academy’s master’s programs in choreography, dance, lighting design, sound design, scenography, comparative dramaturgy and performance research, costume design at Aalto University, and second-year bachelor’s students in dance at the Theatre Academy.
The aim of the course is to deepen students’ understanding of the collegial, movement-based artistic process and their ability to work creatively, purposefully, and responsibly in an artistic working group. The course develops an understanding of the specific characteristics and requirements of different areas of the multidisciplinary process, enabling students to develop their artistic work through constructive negotiation and collaboration.