The Journey to the Mouthmountain -tanssielokuvatapahtuma!

Event Introduction

Welcome to experience the The Journey to the Mouthmountain dance film event at the Pikku-Virgiinia space in Alppila. The event takes place during Helsinki’s Night of the Arts, from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM. You are free to drop by at any time during these hours to watch the film, discuss it, and — if you wish — leave a trace of your viewing experience (through writing, movement, or other means). The length of the film is around 11 min. You can support the event with a voluntary contribution on-site if you wish.

In the dance film The journey to the Mouthmountain the poetic quality of the sound expands the viewing experience and engages rich intimacy, relations and hidden spaces and the imagination when the source of the sound and movement turns out from the back of the mouth. The movements of the two wanderer’s mouths and tongues reveal a provocative realm of movement—at once distorting and sensual – making it shared: seen, heard and perceived. Sound movement dialog resist to reveal instant dance purely or too dominantly.

From micro aggression towards outer space which leaks in between wanderers, towards the vast landscapes, mist and rocky fields, whole of the mouths, unknown paths, the work deals with the repressed embodiment and it’s hidden cavities.

It can be viewed as well as restlessness, where the trek, mountain landscapes, various internal tensions, and interior space intertwine and reflect one another. At the same time sound and movement world is teaching us about how the dance of the mouth relates inevitably our bodily and existence. A vocabulary and dance based on mouth movements map the relationship between voice, movement, and the Annapurna mountain range in Nepal — a name that combines the words Anna (food) and purna (full). The mountain’s name connects to our oral food culture, thereby anchoring the work once again in the eruptions and worlds of the mouth.

The realization of the work has been supported by an artist grant awarded to Pärssinen by Kuvi – The Arts and Culture Agency for
2025 (Former Taike).

Working group
The journey to the Mouthmountain was created by a team assembled by choreographer and dancer Nadja Pärssinen. The team includes dancers Catrin Kaitaro and Nadja Pärssinen, as well as filmmaker Karoliina Gröndahl, who handled filming and sound recordings. Saroj Ban, a member of the Himalaya Adventures trekking group in Nepal, assisted with Filming in the Annapurna range of the Himalayas. Videoartist Hannu Karjalainen helped with the sound and color mix.

BIO

Nadja Pärssinen, choreographer, dancer & teacher
I am choreographer, dancer and teacher who also enjoys wandering in vast landscapes. I have been, for a long time, interested in my various dance projects to study the influence of visuality and live sound/music on bodily thinking. I am inspired by the articulate and flesh mapping of corporeality in relation to time and space, different senses, materials, other beings and the nature environment. Qigong, Yoga, wandering, climbing and various kinesthetic practices based on the present moment (e.g. touch/tactile work) and both philosophical and feminist literature also support my existence in this world. They have also created multifaceted conditions for the birth of my Wanderlust project. This has given rise to several improvisational works, interdisciplinary pieces, and a dance films. www.npflowwow.com

Categories

Installation / exhibition, Open doors and tours, Nature & Environment, Dance, Cinema