UA Miniresidencies: Ama Kyei, Wanda Holopainen & Saban Ramadani

Name: UA Miniresidencies: Ama Kyei, Wanda Holopainen & Saban Ramadani
Start: 2025-12-14T14:00:00+02:00
End: 2025-12-14T15:00:00+02:00
Location: Pengerkatu 11a, FI-00530 Helsinki, Suomi

Schedule

Sun Dec 14 2025 at 02:00 pm to 03:00 pm

UTC+02:00

Location

Pengerkatu 11a, FI-00530 Helsinki, Suomi | Helsinki, ES

During their UA Miniresidency, Ama Kyei, Wanda Holopainen, and Saban Ramadani have been working on Water’s Whisper, an interactive solo dance piece for children aged 3–7 and children with special needs up to primary school age. Their public event is the performance of the work-in-progres, followed by a discussion.

When: 14 December 2025 at 14:00-14:30 (approx. 20 minutes performance, 10 minute discussion)
Where: Post Theatre Collective (Pengerkatu 11 A 3)
Language: English & Finnish (according to participation)

The piece is accessible for all and it is participatory for children. The children will be engaged to move / whisper / talk during the performance.

Water’s Whisper has been inspired by the book The Hidden Messages of Water by water researcher M. Emeto, in which the researcher describes how water formed beautiful ice crystals when it heard encouraging words, prayers or music. Water remembers what it hears and feels better in a supportive environment – just like us humans. Another inspiration for the piece is the water goddess characters Vellamo, Mami Wata and Yemaya. Vellamo is the water goddess in Finnish mythology, and Mami Wata and Yemaya are West African water goddesses who remind us of the sacred and life-giving power of water.
The piece bears traces of the Ghanaian storytelling tradition, where magic and dance serve as key communication tools. The choreographer and performer of the piece, Ama Kyei, has a dance background in street dance traditions and traditional West African dances. The piece is based on Kyei’s movement language. The set design is by artist Wanda Holopainen. The set design consists of a felted textile work by W. Holopainen, which is inspired by the figures of water goddesses. The music for the piece is composed by Sophia Mitiku and Saban Ramadani. The piece is 30 minutes long and can be performed in Finnish, Swedish or English.

ACCESSIBILITY
The building is accessible with a movable ramp to cover the steps to the elevator. The studio space is accessible, including an accessible toilet.

Ama Kyei is a Finnish- Ghanaian dancer, dance teacher and choreographer. I love groove, flow, a sense of freedom and belonging. In my dance universe (and life) I’m constantly drawn for these elements. Besides my passion for dance I love nature, children, colors and community. My heart burns for creating for and with children and youth. I’d love to see a world where children and youth got to grow up being in their super.
Wanda Holopainen is a self taught and community inspired multidisciplinary artist. In my practice I explore the layers of time, memory, ancestry and spirituality. Drawing on cultural heritage and mythologies from Ghana and Finland. In my current work I use textile work, felting, video and sound art, and multi-sensory installations to materialize the interconnectedness of nostalgia and nature.
Saban Ramadani (b.1991) is a Helsinki-based artist born in Kosovo and raised in Finland. He uses practices from theatre, performance, video and sound art in his artistic works. He has most recently been seen at Turku City Theatre in the play Crossing (2024), and in Kiasma Theatre’s performance project; Interior Motives the Musical (2025). He is currently researching white space phenomenology through artistic practice. His work can be seen next year at the photography museum, Stoa and MIF.