LOTS OF FUEL FOR IMAGINATION

Anne Saarikettu, Keskipohjanmaa February 14, 2018

Glims & Gloms, who performed at dance festival Kokkolan Talvitanssit, is an award-winning dance theatre from Espoo aiming at producing performances that include touching comedy, surprising humour and elevating dance.

On the big stage the audience witnessed Jam – Herra Hillon hämmennys (JAM – Mr Hillo’s Confusion). The auditorium was full: children under the age of seven and school children with adults accompanying them.

The programme leaflet describes the performance like this: Mr Jam Hillo carries all his belongings with him. Having lost his home, he lives the life of a hobo and wanders around dragging his bags. Inside the load of luggage, there is everything one could need, but also antiques, the value of which is only understood by Mr Hillo himself. The former junktrader’s most valuable treasures – Esmeralda, Vilivili and Urho – come into life for the horror of Hillo and for the joy of the children.

It was uplifting to observe how the children were absorbed by the performance and how they reacted, e.g. their intense gazes, astonished questions and their laughter immediately after something intresting took place on stage.

Even from an adult point of view, the under an hour long performance was an interesting journey to a world of versatile physicalness, colours, shadows and sounds.

I can only guess how and for how long the performance will reflect in the child spectators’ lives, as it fuels the imagination in many different ways. I bet the children will keep taking in influences of the movements of the characters as well as from the costumes and other props in their role plays for a long time.

One of the under seven-year-old children in the audience described the performance as funny and even scary. ”I recommend this to 4-year-olds,” the child said. So do I.

I also give thanks and take pleasure in how diverse Kokkola’s cultural life is, even for children.