On stage at Annantalo Arts Centre in Helsinki: Circo aereo: Pyörre- Vortex

For the performance, Ranta collected toys and tools used in different cultures around the world, which require skill and knowledge of how the laws of physics affect movement. Items made originally from natural materials, such as a Nigerian rascal top made of a snail shell, a Mexican lasso or a Chinese diabolo, receive a new treatment and life in the performance.

When handled skilfully, the sounds produced by the swirling, hypnotic movement of the items conjure up mental images of natural phenomena, such as wind or storms, that appear to influence the performer’s movements and choreography.

Eetu Ranta is an exceptionally wide-ranging new-generation contemporary circus artist. He has been featured in Finland in works by groups such as Circo Aereo, Race Horse Company, Dance Theatre Hurjaruuth and the Finnish National Opera.

Duration: roughly 50 min

Performance and choreography: Eetu Ranta

Design: Eetu Ranta and Maksim Komaro

Lighting design: Juho Rahijärvi

Sound design: Ranta and Komaro

Images: Juho Rahijärvi

Production: Circo Aereo in collaboration with Annantalo

Circo Aereo, Finland’s first and longest-running contemporary circus group, will be a resident group of Annantalo in 2026. The group’s artistic work has played a key role in the development of new circus into an independent art form in Finland and in the international breakthrough of Finnish circus art in the 21st century.

The group’s multi-artistic performances have been seen thousands of times in more than 40 countries on five continents. In addition to circus, the group also works with professionals of object and movement theatre, visual arts, dance and music.