One of us and a rope. Magical images of weightlessness.
A rope hangs above an empty stage and stealthily it begins to spin. The motion of the twist grows bigger, until the entire rope wriggles and squirms in the air as if haunted by an invisible force, inviting the performer to the stage.
Surface-brushing movement ties the eye to the rope’s strong fibres. The rising swirl pulls along, grips intertwine tightly and feet take off from the ground. Reflections ripple on surfaces, spilling on spectator’s skin.

Tom Hakala 2013
“Would this be the new export hit of Finnish contemporary circus? – – Pinta (Surface) is a flawlessly considered and cut diamond, maybe the most exceptional and original performance that I have ever seen with a rope.” Helsingin Sanomat
“Pinta (Surface) is a bull’s eye on an international level. Hakanpää has a deep understanding of her art form, sovereign control of her instrument and first class skill in performing.” Teatteri&Tanssi+Sirkus
“Vertical rope is one of the most typical circus practices. – – Pinta (Surface) is something completely different.” Uutispäivä Demari
Performer
Salla Hakanpää
Direction
Ville Walo
Design
Tuuli Kyttälä – Sound
Anne Jämsä – Costumes and stage
Ainu Palmu – Lighting
Video
Teemu Liakka – Filming
Matias Boettge – Editing
Concept
Hakanpää+the creative team
Duration
40 minutes
Production
WHS
Zero Gravity Company
in co-operation with CIRKO – Center for New Circus
Premiere
30.10.2013 in CIRKO – Center for New Circus, Helsinki, Finland
Other performances
CIRKO – Center for New Circus, Helsinki, Finland
Subcase – Nordic Circus Fair, Stockholm, Sweden
Black and White Theater festival, Imatra, Finland
Teatro A Corte –festival, Turin, Italy
Brocante –festival, Frisanco, Italy
FutureCircus Festival, Turku, Finland
Flow Circus, Oulu, Finland
Festival Pisteurs D’Etoiles, Strasbourg, France
New Circus Weekend, Vilnius, Lithuania
Circus Tree festival, Tallinn, Estonia
CircusFest, London, England