Le Petit Festival Hanko 2026

Variation III is a site-specific performance set in a restaurant environment where hospitality, space and human encounters become part of the artistic experience.

Performers: Roosa Halme and Sinikka Lumiluoto
Ingredients Director: Kai Ruohonen
Production: KO-KOO-MO / Annukka Ketola

Roosa Halme & Sinikka Lumiluoto – introduction (KO-KOO-MO)
Roosa Halme is a Finnish puppet theatre artist and composer who works particularly in the field of visual and participatory performance art. She is part of the KO-KOO-MO group, where her main artistic approach is connected to “Block Theatre” – a method in which wooden blocks function both as material and as a dramaturgical starting point.

In Halme’s art, the interaction between play, imagination, and material is central. She describes her artistic practice as a kind of exploration, where simple forms can generate multi-layered worlds and interpretations. The performances are often wordless or nearly wordless and are built on the audience’s active imagination.

In KO-KOO-MO productions, Halme works both as a performer and a directing artist. She has participated in works where the audience is invited to build “scenes of their life” using blocks.

Sinikka Lumiluoto is a performance artist and Halme’s collaborator in several KO-KOO-MO productions. She performs and works especially in community-based and participatory performances, where the audience is not merely an observer but part of the creation of the work. Lumiluoto often performs alongside Halme in, for example, the “Variation” series.

At 13:00–13:45

Nina Hyvärinen: PERSONAS by Carolyn Carlson

Hanko Casino Restaurant

Performance and artist talk for residents of care homes and upper secondary school students.

Dance artist Nina Hyvärinen performs PERSONAS by world-renowned choreographer Carolyn Carlson. Carlson is one of the most influential figures in contemporary dance, celebrated for her poetic visual language and profound exploration of the human condition.

Nina Hyvärinen
Nina Hyvärinen is a Finnish dancer, choreographer and teacher whose career spans classical ballet, contemporary dance and Eastern movement traditions. She worked as a principal soloist with the Finnish National Ballet (1990–2012), performing major classical roles and collaborating with leading choreographers such as Carolyn Carlson, William Forsythe, Jorma Uotinen, George Balanchine and Jiří Kylián.
Since 2012 she has worked as a freelance artist, teacher and creator, developing her artistic practice internationally, especially in Taiwan and Japan. Her recent work includes interdisciplinary collaborations and new choreographic creations, focusing on presence, sensitivity and the qualitative depth of movement.

Carolyn Carlson
Carolyn Carlson is one of the key figures of European contemporary dance. A self-described nomad, her career has spanned the United States, France, Italy and beyond, from Alwin Nikolais’ company in New York to the Paris Opera and Théâtre de la Ville.
She has created over 100 works, including landmark pieces such as Blue Lady, Maa and Writings on Water. Awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale in 2006, she is widely recognised for her poetic and philosophical approach to movement, which she describes as “visual poetry.” Since 2023 she has focused on teaching and passing on her repertoire to new generations.

At 14:30

Sampo Joenvuori: What’s the Song?

Casino Park
(Free admission)

Street dancer Sampo Joenvuori is known for his powerful improvisational style, creating unique performances inspired by music, surroundings and audience interaction.

Introduction to Street Dancer Sampo Joenvuori

Sampo Joenvuori is a Finnish street dancer and improvisational performer best known for his spontaneous dance performances in public spaces, especially in the city of Tampere. A self-taught dancer, he creates each performance through improvisation, responding in the moment to the music, the surroundings, and the audience.

Joenvuori has said that he began dancing in public as a way to overcome the shame and insecurity caused by bullying during his school years. Dance has since become a means of self-expression, bringing joy to others, and encouraging people to be themselves.

Today, he performs both on the streets and at various cultural events, where his unique improvisational style and expressive presence have earned him widespread recognition.

At 18:00
OPENING CONCERT

With Love – Helena & Jorma

Hanko Town Hall, Banquet Hall

An intimate concert by Jorma Uotinen and Helena Lindgren featuring songs of love, longing, joy and life. Chansons, jazz standards and beloved Finnish classics come together through the interpretations of two exceptional performers.

Tickets: €40 / €35 / Festival Pass
Accessible venue (elevator available)

At 10:00–11:30

Nina Hyvärinen Dance Workshop

Dance Studio, Esplanadi 77

Nina Hyvärinen guides participants into the poetic movement language of Carolyn Carlson. The workshop explores movement, rhythm, space and presence through contemporary dance practice. For dance enthusiasts of all levels.

Tickets: €20
Two workshops: €35
Age limit: 16+

At 12:00–13:30

Sini Länsivuori Dance Workshop

Salon de Danse
Dance Studio, Esplanadi 77

Award-winning dance artist and pedagogue Sini Länsivuori invites participants to explore movement, breath and creative expression. The workshop is open to all levels.

Tickets: €20
Two workshops: €35
Age limit: 16+

At 14:00–15:00

Art Wagon Linnuntie – Milky Way Art Wagon

Virpi Kanto & Tapani Kokko
Hanko Casino Restaurant

Sculptors Virpi Kanto & Tapani Kokko

“Once upon a time there was a wagon travelling along the road. An angry dog began barking at the procession, but it got a bone stuck in its throat.”

Art Wagon is a travelling, performative art exhibition. Since 2016, it has combined visual art, performance, philosophical attitude, humour and theatre. The performers, sculptors Virpi Kanto and Tapani Kokko, appear in their roles as Lai Lai Bird and Tapani Tambourine, presenting absurd, daring and highly risky acts, such as breaking a sausage chain with the stomach without using hands, drumming in an oxygen-free space, a “shot rabbit”, and a snake dance.

This artist duo from Orimattila has toured across Finland since 2016, performing on invitation in museums such as the Sara Hildén Art Museum, as well as at festivals such as Kajaani Poetry Week. The performance concludes with Lai Lai Bird and Tapani Tambourine presenting the Art Wagon exhibition and its devices of illusion and invention. The work is humorous and uplifting in spirit.

Duration: approx. 45 minutes
Recommended age: 3+
Tickets: €15
Family ticket (2+2): €35

The exhibition is open before and after the performance.

Virpi Kanto
Virpi Kanto (b. 1959) graduated from the Kankaanpää Art School in 1988. As a sculptor, she works primarily in clay and casts her works in concrete. Her art asks: What is a human being? She portrays humans not as portraits, but as part of historical and cultural flows.

Alongside gallery exhibitions, she has created numerous public sculptures, including the 32 concrete faces in the Lahden Matkakeskus underpass (“When I Left, They Were Sleeping”), a nearly three-metre-tall female figure Life Dance in Kotka, and the sculpture ensemble Lintukoto (2024) at Valteri School in Kuopio.

Tapani Kokko
Tapani Kokko (b. 1969) graduated as a sculptor from the Academy of Fine Arts in 1999. His expressive wooden sculptures often depict human figures, approached with a style that is both humorous and raw.

An award-winning artist, Kokko primarily works with wood, though his practice has recently incorporated materials such as beads and textiles. In contrast, his iconic “Holy Images,” created at the beginning of the war in Ukraine, express solemnity and respect for its victims.

His most recent works are richly coloured and rococo-influenced. His latest solo exhibition was held at Galleria Forsblom in 2026. Kokko has also explored acting, performing in Kristian Smeds’ play Veistäjät at the Finnish National Theatre in 2014.

At 19:00

LE PETIT FESTIVAL DISCO

An open invitation to all dance lovers. The evening starts at Hanko Town Hall and continues towards Hanko Casino Park and the old dance hall.

At 10:00–11:30

Gabriela Ariana: Embodied Workshop

Hanko Casino old dance hall & park area

Chilean-born, Finland-based performance artist and choreographer Gabriela Ariana leads a gentle somatic workshop exploring breath, senses and presence in connection with nature and self.

Tickets: €20
Two workshops: €35

Optional private somatic sessions available during the festival.
Price: €40 (regular €85)

Chilean-born performance artist, dancer, and choreographer Gabriela Ariana, who is based in Finland, invites participants to a gentle, body-centered workshop where movement, voice, breath, the senses, and mindful presence support restoration and reconnection with oneself.

Her practice is rooted in ecosomatic movement, an approach that understands the body as an integral part of nature and the wider web of life.

During the workshop, participants will explore the body’s inner landscapes through movement, deep listening, and guided imagery. The focus is not on performance or achievement, but on slowing down, sensing, and discovering one’s own natural rhythm in a safe and encouraging environment. The exercises are suitable for everyone, regardless of previous experience.

Central themes in Gabriela Ariana’s artistic practice include connection with nature, embodied knowledge, presence, and community. Her workshops offer a space for relaxation, creativity, and a deeper connection with oneself and the surrounding world.

In addition, personal somatic sessions with Gabriela can be booked during the art weekend.

Venue: Dance Hall, Hanko Casino
Bookings & information: info@presence.fi

At 14:00–16:00

VÄYLÄ

Rosa Liksom – Mikko Roiha – Ella Mettänen
Hanko Town Hall Banquet Hall

Based on Rosa Liksom’s novel, Väylä tells the story of a young girl during the Lapland War. The solo performance explores war, survival and identity from a female perspective.

Performed by: Ella Mettänen

Duration: 2 h (incl. intermission)
Tickets: €34 / €28 / Festival Pass

At 20:00

MOONLIGHT PICNIC – CLOSING EVENT

The festival concludes with a communal moonlight gathering at Hanko Town Hall foyer and Hangö Casino Park.
Bring your own picnic and join an evening of music, dance and full moon atmosphere by the sea.