Introduction

A white climbing wall. A high wire above the stage. A group composed of athletes and artists meet in mid-air, defying gravity and exploring the limits of the human body.

Selected by The New York Times as one of the best dance works of 2023, "Corps extremês," or "Extreme Bodies" in English, blends documentary material with delicate dreamlike qualities, athletic prowess, and daring. The ensemble includes a highliner, a rock climber, and acrobats.

In breathtaking scenes, they test their own physical strength and emotional boundaries. At times, the stage transforms into a huge screen, on which images are projected of magnificent natural landscapes – great vertigo – with the highliner and rock climber in action.

This visually stunning work does not succumb to the easy allure of virtuosity but instead illuminates human nature through the fear and tension revealed in extreme situations.

The performances are a part of Dance House Helsinki's major international guest performance series. The series presents a high-quality, ambitious programme of international guest performances, with the support of Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation.