P 2 FINNISH DANCE IN Focus 2014–2015 EDITORIAL CONTENTS FINNISH DANCE IN Focus 2014–2015 P 3 \ \ VISIONS Finnish Dance in Focus 2014–2015 Volume FiFteen OF 04–07 14–21 Publisher: Dance Info Finland Bulevardi 23–27, FI-00180 Helsinki Tel. +358 (0)9 6121 812 POSSIBLE Fax +358 (0)9 6121 824 \ [email protected], www.danceinfo.fi “Some people are Editor-in-chief: Sanna Rekola kinaesthetic learners who [email protected] WORLDS 'learn on their feet'.” Editor: Elina Manninen [email protected] – Katja Kirsi Editorial board: Piia Ahonen, Hannele Jyrkkä, Working in a creative field requires the ability to spot new connections between Elina Manninen, Sanna Rekola \ Writers: Satu Herrala, Hannele Jyrkkä, Maija things, develop original ideas and distance oneself from the ordinary. Creative “People have a strong desire Karhunen, Elina Manninen, Raisa Rauhamaa people need to be sensitive, smart, brave and free-spirited. to see everything, to sort of Every now and then, we culture lovers encounter a work that generates English translation: Ruth Urbom 25–28 acquire everything.” Graphic design and layout: Inka Kosonen new associations, possible worlds and broader views on life. To me, this sums Photographers: Tanja Ahola, Maria Baranova, up the meaning of art. – Valtteri Raekallio Bargsteen Photo, Elina Brotherus, Laurent The ability to distance oneself from the familiar and to combine different Champoussin, Victor Engström, Jurgita genres and techniques is also crucial for vibrant dance art. Without that sort Grubere, Satu Herrala, Robert Hoge, Matti of spiritual and physical freedom, dance becomes merely a bearer of tradition, Häyrynen, Mikko Kallinen, Mirka Kleemola a repetition of the past. Lennart Laberenz, Leevi Lehtinen, Pirjo That atmosphere of doing things differently has been reflected strongly in Lempeä, Marko Luukkonen, Anna Mustonen, \ the field of Finnish dance art in recent years. Finnish dance artists draw bril- Marko Mäkinen, Katri Naukkarinen, Park Hyun- “When I photograph dance, I have to get keun, Panu Pohjola, Roberto Pugliese, Patrik liantly on various other artistic genres, social phenomena, cultures and views into the rhythm of the performance.” of the world. Recent works also liberate viewers to experience something new. Rastenberger, Marco Riva, Samuli Ronkanen, – Sakari Viika Nanna Saarhelo, Ia Samoil, Jussi Sirviö, Heidi On pages 14–21 of this issue, Finnish choreographers consider some new Strengell, Uupi Tirronen, Tapio Vanhatalo, ways to generate interaction with contemporary audiences. Some rising young Sakari Viika, Timo Wright choreographers give their views on the sources of their creativity (pp. 8–11), as does Tero Saarinen (pp. 33–36), who celebrates his 50th birthday this year. on the coVer: Just Queens Even Finnish Dance in Focus magazine has been updated. The content and 02 EDITORIAL 22 RESIDENCY DIARY Choreographer: Satu Herrala design have been improved – you’ll find a colourful collection of photos from Visions of possible worlds \ Elina Manninen Creating Nature Dances Dancers: Heli Meklin, Noora Nenonen, Linda dance photographer Sakari Viika’s album in the centre spread. We also cherish in the Danish Wilderness \ Satu Herrala Priha, Anni Rissanen, Aino Voutilainen. older traditions, such as continuing to issue the magazine on paper. The core 04 NEWS Cover photography: Katri Naukkarinen content is also available online. We’d love to hear your views on the content as 25 DANCE IN PICTURES Printed by: Painotalo Miktor well as the appearance of the magazine. 08 NEW FACES Sakari Viika – With Gratitude: The Ministry of Education I hope you enjoy reading the latest issue of Finnish Dance in Focus! Masi Tiitta: Concentrated presence Moments crystallised in photos \ Elina Manninen and Culture, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Marjaterttu Willman: Belief in motion Elina Manninen Anna Maria Häkkinen: The poetic concrete 29 THE WORLD AND US ISSN-1795-9837 Editor Jarkko Partanen: Freedom and opportunities International dance citizens \ Maija Karhunen \ Elina Manninen 33 CHOREOGRAPHER IN FOCUS 1 2 REGIONAL FOCUS \ Elina Manninen The power of dance is the fiery core of Tero Saarinen’s Dance Info Finland is a gateway to Finnish dance. It works as an active information office and expert organisation world \ Raisa Rauhamaa with a mission to develop the art of dance in Finland and strengthen the position of dance in Finnish society. 14 FEATURE Founded in 1980, Dance Info Finland´s main activities include communications, promotion, advocacy, gathering Finding new ways to be different \ Hannele Jyrkkä 37 MOVERS AND SHAKERS statistics and facilitating international projects. It has eleven member organisations that represent the variety of dance styles and dance organisations in Finland. Saiffa – Street dance centre \ Elina Manninen Dance Info Finland’s website www.danceinfo.fi includes e.g. performance calendar, dance database TANKA and the latest news about Finnish dance. Finnish Dance in Focus, which represents the Finnish dance field to an international readership, is published once a year. 38 DIRECTORY P 4 FINNISH DANCE IN Focus 2014–2015 NEWS NEWS FINNISH DANCE IN Focus 2014–2015 P 5 \ \ KINAESTHETIC ice HOT in oslo LEARNING The programme will include diverse, PHOTO Uupi Tirronen high-quality contemporary dance performances from established groups as well as newcomers. From 9 to 14 December 2014, ICE HOT – enthusiasts from all over the world. For the Nordic Dance Platform will present the best first time in 2014, ICE HOT will also present of Nordic contemporary dance in Oslo, the dance performances specially geared for capital city of Norway. children. The programme will include diverse, ICE HOT – Nordic Dance Platform is high-quality contemporary dance perfor- a Nordic collaborative project. The lead mances from established groups as well partners are Dansens Hus in Stockholm, as newcomers. The full programme will be Dansens Hus in Oslo, Dansehallerne in announced at the Tanzmesse in Düsseldorf Copenhagen, Performing Arts Iceland and in August 2014. Dance Info Finland. EM In addition to the artistic programme, the event serves as a broad forum for dis- \ cussion and meetings that attracts dance Find out more: nordicdanceplatform.com \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ in the spring of 2014, the Zodiak – Center explained Katja Kirsi, Zodiak’s outreach Kirsi explained. for New Dance launched its TALK – Art co-ordinator. In addition to developing methods, the Dance on your and Movement for Language Learning pro- New teaching methods are being devel- project is studying the effects of regular, ject. The three-year project is linked to a oped at selected primary schools, where a long-term creative work on language- workshop method previously developed dance instructor who is a native or fluent learning outcomes and learners’ motivation. tablet at Zodiak, which combines dance art with speaker of the language being taught will The project leaders want to share their language learning. The aim of the project work with the school’s own teacher and experiences with others as well. When the is to continue the development of kinaes- pupils for a period of three years. Seven methods have been developed further, they Dance Info Finland and Provisual Oy, a digital content producer, thetic teaching methods. languages are being taught as part of the plan to produce some instructional videos have created an app that presents Finnish dance art using new “All of us learn via our senses. We programme. on the subject. The kinaesthetic teaching technology. The Dance Finland app, released in April 2014, is free mainly use our senses of sight and hear- “This isn’t a method where you keep method is also being taught as a topic in to download for iPads and Android tablets from the Apple Store ing. Some people are kinaesthetic learners repeating the same exercises. Instead, every special workshops for dance artists and and Google Play. who ‘learn on their feet’. They learn things artist guides the group individually, utilis- language teachers interested in the sub- Dance Finland showcases 14 Finnish dance ensembles and best by storing them as physical images ing their own artistic and physical working ject. EM artists using a variety of media: there are videos, photos, articles using muscle memory: by doing, trying and practices. The artists’ professional skill and links to social media and sources of further information. New experiencing. In the workshops, we use means they can guide any group from the \ content is added regularly. EM methods for all different learning styles. group’s own starting point and involve the Find out more: www.zodiak.fi The idea is that we learn best by totally participants in a creative learning process \ immersing ourselves in doing something,” that combines language and movement,” Find out more: www.fanpod.fi/dance P 6 FINNISH DANCE IN Focus 2014–2015 NEWS NEWS FINNISH DANCE IN Focus 2014–2015 P 7 \ \ special needs. This June saw the publica- FolkJam tion of SampoFolkJam, a book containing 40 dance-based games for children and adults. When we were developing the inspires games, we had the feeling we were break- ing new ground – nobody had done this sort of thing before,” said choreographer and people to get dance instructor Petri Kauppinen. There are now plans for a Swedish- active language version of FolkJam, as the concept based on folk dance and folk music has been attracting interest in Sweden. “We’re certain that more people will become interested in dance and get involved through this kind of direct physical Dance instructors in northern Finland have The concept was created by dance activity,” explained Kauppinen, who also come up with a new form of dance exercise professionals in the northern city of Oulu leads jam sessions himself at fitness centres that could be called the Finnish answer working together with students from the and other venues. HJ mikko kallinen: to Zumba. FolkJam®, which has its roots in dance education programme at Oulu Uni- REVERSE<forward.