The Why Mix / Remix

What is Auraco’s new work made of? Mime, dance, music. Mazes, circles, spirals. Emojis of three wise monkeys. That’s what The Why Mix is made of.

Why do the hands get twisted? Why do the legs take different directions? Why does one have a tail and the others do not? Yes – and why do I see even when I don’t?

The word “why” is key to understanding and knowledge. “Mix” is a mixture. The Why Mix throws questions in the air about the meanings and interpretations of bodily movement. The Why Mix is a geometric, thrilling, colourful and partly serious mixture of contemporary dance, mime and music. The piece ponders on children’s reduced bodily expression and movement constructions in the time of smartphones and emojis. The Why Mix’s visuality draws its inspiration from the Bauhaus style – but why?

Director: Päivi Aura
Choreography: Päivi Aura, Kati Lehtola, Veera Lamberg, Maria Autio
Music and sound design: Heli Hartikainen
Performers: Veera Lamberg, Heli Hartikainen, Maria Autio
Costumes: Piritta Kämi-Conway
Light design: Nicolas Salo
Production: Auraco together with Annantalo Arts Centre
Duration: 35 min
Age recommendation: 4+ years

A dancer in a purple costume is covering her eyes and ears with her hands. Next to her a dancer in a green costume is covering her mouth with her hands.

Two dancers in a purple and a green costume respectively are crouching and touching the floor with their palms. Behind them plays a saxophonist in a blue costume.

A dancer in a purple costume is dancing. She is wearing an accessory that has large orange balls attached to it via thin stems.

A dancer in a green costume is holding a finger in front of her mouth, with her other palm in front of her in a stopping position. She has large yellow rings around her waist.

A saxophonist in a blue costume is playing. She has an accessory at the back that resembles large yellow flower petals.

Photos: Minna Hatinen

The Why Mix is a part of the Mapping – a Map on the Aesthetics of Performing Arts for Early Years project of the EU’s Creative Europe programme. The Why Mix performances had to be cancelled due to increased Covid-19 restrictions in December 2020.

Past performances

8 Oct 2023 Festival International de Teatru Pentru Copii, Bucharest, Romania
27 Jan – 4 Feb 2023 Annantalo, Helsinki, Finland

Co-funded by the
Creative Europe Programme
of the European Union