Virpi Pahkinen [SWE] | Virpiversum - Dansens Hus

Welcome to Virpiversum! Virpi Pahkinen celebrates 40 years as a dancer with a three-day cavalcade in all the rooms and corners of Dansens Hus.

Venue

Main stage, Barnhusgatan 12-14

6 Dec

17:00

Film/dance screening of Virpiskop at Blackbox (45 min)

6 Dec

18:00

Film/dance screening of Virpiskop at Blackbox (45 min)

6 Dec

19:00

Performance on the Main Stage: Virpi Lunaire (60 min)

10 Dec

18:00

Film/dance screening of Virpiskop at Blackbox (45 min)

10 Dec

19:00

Performance on the Main Stage: Virpi Lunaire (60 min)

11 Dec

17:00

Film/dance screening of Virpiskop at Blackbox (45 min)

11 Dec

18:00

Film/dance screening of Virpiskop at Blackbox (45 min)

11 Dec

19:00

Performance on the Main Stage: Virpi Lunaire (60 min)

Note! If you are attending both performances on the same day, choose tickets for Virpi Lunaire first and then Virpiskop. If you want to attend the performances on different days, buy your tickets separately.

This year, dance legend Virpi Pahkinen celebrates 40 years as a dancer and choreographer.
The highlight will be at Dansens Hus in December, where the audience will have the opportunity to take part in her entire world over three days in the full evening that goes under the collective name Virpiversum. The evening begins with Virpiskop - a film/dance screening in the Blackbox, followed by the world premiere of Virpi's new show Virpi Lunaire and an exhibition of costumes, photos and videos by artist Florence Montmare.

In brand new Virpi Lunaire Virpi takes our big stage in her double role as dancer and choreographer together with her long-time dance partner Pontus Sundset. In addition, Virpi herself also takes a seat at the piano.

OM VIRPI LUNAIRE
There is a shamanistic groove, the human body in poetic geometry, and some delicate plants. The moon is the starting point for this dance journey. Its rays create a bridge of light where we can gently place our steps and face the unknown. Our paradoxical and stressful present makes us impatient; we think everything has to go even faster, we want to stop time and live forever. But dance can bring mysteries to life, provide guidance in these uncertain times and anchor us in the depths of our souls.

ABOUT VIRPISKOP
Virpiskop provides a unique insight into Pahkinen's long career in dance. It includes the Swedish premiere of the short film Meteor and film clips from early works such as Bardo, Morpho Z and Aajej interspersed with live performances from two young dancers. William Nylind dances a solo originally featured in Weld Extended. For Vanessa Lindblom, Virpi has choreographed a brand new solo that will have its world premiere.

About Virpi Pahkinen

As one of Swedish dance's most brilliant international artists, Virpi Pahkinen has mesmerised audiences over the decades with her distinctive dance style. From her first set, aged just 18, Virpi has followed her own path and carved out her own place in dance history.
She has toured her work to over 132 cities, in 48 countries on six continents. In her dual role as choreographer and dancer, she has performed at the Library of Alexandria as well as at the Nobel Festival in Stockholm City Hall.
Pahkinen has been commissioned by companies and institutions such as the Finnish National Ballet, Stockholm 59° North, Skånes Dansteater and Ballet Poznanski. She collaborates with artists from a wide range of fields - including singer Mariam Wallentin, artist Charlotte Gyllenhammar and percussionist Mika Takehara. Pahkinen also had a long-standing collaboration with director Ingmar Bergman.

But it's not just in dance that Virpi has made her mark. She's given summer talks on P1, published the book Ormbäraren (2013) in Sweden and Finland - and she's a style icon, collaborating with designers such as Martin Bergström and Diana Orving to create costume designs for her own shows.
In 2011, Pahkinen was awarded Sweden's Royal Medal Litteris et Artibus and she received the City of Stockholm's Cullberg Prize in 2014. In 2024, Virpi Pahkinen also received the Gannevik Scholarship.

During the anniversary year 2025, Virpi will celebrate in a number of ways: In March, her work Change will travel around the country on a tour organised by Dansnät Sverige. In the spring, her new book will be launched: Visp, betraktelser från blå linjen till Sombrerogalaxen. In August, she plays for the large Stockholm audience in Vita Bergsparken. And in December, the year ends with the world premiere of Virpi Lunaire at Dansens Hus.

Virpiversum: Virpi Lunaire and Virpiskop

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It may seem hubris to name an anniversary ”Virpiversum,” but in Virpi Pahkinen's case, it is justified. Not only because of her long and distinctive career, in which she has captivated audiences for 40 years as a dancer and choreographer, transporting them to worlds reminiscent of vast deserts, deep jungles, cool clubs, spiritual temples or spaces beyond our comprehension, but also because she herself has toured all over the globe. She has a global audience in nearly 50 countries.

One factor in her success is how accessible Pahkinen makes her detailed dance world to a broad audience. It is not difficult to allow oneself to be enveloped by her precisely constructed universe.

William Nylund and Vanessa Lindblom /.../ young people who can carry on her special style, a slow art of movement where the dancer's well-controlled body becomes a flexible sculpture of fingertips, arched backs and pointed big toes. Animal and insect-like, but lifted by a world of thought that is both spiritual and prosaic.