JoJo – Oulu Dance Centre, which is part of the national network of regional dance centres, is a cultural partner of the City of Oulu.
Morphosis, which premiered at the OuDance festival in September, will return to Valve Hall from 15 to 18 October. Sunday, 18 October, will be a relaxed performance in which the different needs of the audience will be taken into account in a more diverse way than usual.
A relaxed performance offers more space in the auditorium, dimmed safety lighting, and access to a quiet room where audience members can take a break during the performance if needed. Audiences will also receive more detailed information in advance about the performance and any potentially intense lighting or sounds.
A relaxed performance is designed especially for people who may find a traditional performance environment or its conventions overwhelming. However, it is suitable for everyone. The aim is to create a more inclusive and flexible way to participate in cultural events.
JoJo – Oulu Dance Centre has participated in the Saavuta project, led by the Oulu Cultural Events Association, which focuses on improving accessibility at cultural events. As part of the project, two relaxed-performance pilots will take place in Oulu in October. One of them is Morphosis, produced by JoJo and created by Armour Circus Works, combining dance with object manipulation, a technique familiar from contemporary circus.
Morphosis by Armour Circus Works combines dance with object manipulation, a technique used in contemporary circus. The creative team includes circus artist Onni Toivonen, dancer and choreographer Olli Lautiola, lighting and spatial designer Titus Torniainen, and musician and sound designer Konsta Leinonen.
This wordless performance explores human connection and the uncertainty that can sometimes accompany it. Circus movement, dynamic dance, live light and sound combine to create an experience that invites audiences to reflect on how we connect with one another.
Relaxed performances are not yet an established concept in Finland, although similar performances have been presented at venues such as Espoo Theatre. They can be particularly valuable for neurodivergent people, people with intellectual disabilities, people with sensory sensitivities, and audience members who need the freedom to move around or leave during a performance.
The welcoming and flexible atmosphere of a relaxed performance can also open the door to cultural experiences for people who have not previously felt able to attend cultural events.
“A relaxed performance is not an event intended only for specific groups. It is open to everyone, while also making culture more accessible to those who may find a traditional theatre environment and its conventions overwhelming. We hope that the practices used in relaxed performances will become more common in regular performances, too. For example, providing clear and sufficiently detailed information about a performance in advance benefits all of us,” says Minea Taivalaho of the Oulu Cultural Events Association.
The aim of this pilot is to help establish relaxed-performance practices more widely in the Oulu region and elsewhere in Finland in the future.
“JoJo was enthusiastic about joining a project that develops the accessibility of cultural activities. As an organisation receiving state subsidies, we believe it is important that our activities are as accessible as possible to everyone,” says Helena Lindqvist, Executive Director of JoJo – Oulu Dance Centre.
Choreography: Olli Lautiola & Onni Toivonen | Performers in October: Olli Lautiola & Iiro Näkki | Sound Design: Konsta Leinonen | Light Design: Titus Torniainen | Photos: Olli Lautiola | Production: JoJo – Oulu Dance Centre & Nuua Company | Duration approx. 55 min. | Premiered on 9.9.2026 as part of OuDance Festival | The performance uses theatrical smoke and strong lights.
Performances in Valvesali at Cultural Centre Valve
Thu 15.10. at 19, audience discussion | Fri 16.10. at 19 | Sat 17.10. at 19 |
Sun 18.10. at 16, An odourless, relaxed show that aims to take into account the needs of neurominorities, especially in relation to the senses, movement and calming down
Visit the performance site.
