The Tampere dance group Mobita-Dansco will premiere the show Tanssiva Muumilaakso (Dancing Moominvalley) on Thursday. The performance will also be held in Shanghai at the World's Fair.
The beloved Moomins have been seen in animated series, theatre and musical performances and comics. They have also been branded on cards, toys and dishware. In spite of their far-reaching popularity, choreographer Samuli Roininen says he believes bringing the Moomins into the world of modern dance can teach audiences something new and substantial about the creatures.
"The Moominvalley characters are quite the dancers in Jansson's texts and illustrations. That provides us with such delectable dance parts," he says.
Roininen says he thinks the routine will appeal to adults and children alike.
The modern dance performance is based on Jansson's book "Tales from Moominvalley". The music was composed by Heikki Mäenpää.
Jansson’s 13 Moomin novels and thousands of Moomin cartoons have been translated into 40 languages.
