I made Cinderella together with visual artist Jaana Partanen, to medieval Häme Castle, Hämeenlinna, in July-August 2003. It was commissioned by Hippalot 03, art festival for children and youth. Visually and spatially Cinderella had its roots in Jaana Partanen’s “daily alchemy”, installations made of gold-plated everyday objects. I used these objects in my two different performances that I performed successively. They were improvised, vocal dances. The performer in grey, white or red shirt dances the brush dance, mirror dance, bean dance, foam dance, cutting-the-toe dance and sings the welcoming rap, but falls never into absolute depression. The sun is shining on ashes! Cinderella is a hymn for everyday princesses and princes! On tour: Klink og Bank, Reykjavik, 05/04; Oulu, 02/05; Helsinki, 05/07; Vaasa, 11/08; Kajaani, 12/08.

”Äänenkäytön mestari oli Tuhkimoa tanssinut Juha Valkeapää, joka rakensi tilanteita, kuljetti tarinaa ja loi tunnelmia milloin puhuen, milloin omiaan hoilottaen.

Aikamme Tuhkimoita ovat siivoojat, ylenkatsotun ammatin yksinäiset puurtajat. Toisaalta Valkeapään prinsessa oli myös leikkivä lapsi — aikuisissakin lymyilevä pikku vintiö.”

Anja Roivainen, Tanssi, 04/2003

Photo: Juhana Myllyniemi