P 2 FINNISH DANCE IN FOCUS 2017–2018 EDITORIAL CONTENTS FINNISH DANCE IN FOCUS 2017–2018 P 3 Lighting and sound designers Aino on equal terms with other Huovio artists and creatives. Jani-Matti 22–27 FINNISH DANCE IN FOCUS \ 2017–2018 VOLUME EIGHTEEN CAN WE TACKLE Salo \ Mandelin Publisher: Dance Info Finland 28–32 Tallberginkatu 1 C/93, 00180 Helsinki SOCIETY’S PROBLEMS combines styles Tel. +358 (0)9 6121 812 \ from circus [email protected] acrobatics to www.danceinfo.fi THROUGH DANCE? contemporary Editor-in-chief: Sanna Rekola dance. [email protected] Editor: Sanna Kangasluoma In today’s global climate, many feel that we live in a precarious and unsafe world, Ilpo [email protected] and this is also reflected in dance art. Art and artists are taking the opportunity to Vainionpää Editorial board: Sanna Kangasluoma, speak out in defence of empathy, trust, honesty and love. Collaboration is the working Katarina Lindholm, Sanna Rekola method du jour, and individual artistic geniuses and stars have been replaced by work that embraces collective creation between artists from different spheres. 12–19 Writers: Olli Ahlroos, Niko Hallikainen, Jenny Body language and dance can be more effective than mere words when it comes Jägerhorn-Tabermann, Sanna Kangasluoma, to initiating all-encompassing human encounters. Breakdance workshops are being Maija Karhunen, Raisa Rauhamaa, used to prevent and resolve bullying problems involving young people, and a dance Inka Reijonen video made by a church in Helsinki and published on YouTube touched many with English translation: Claire Dickenson, its comforting message. \ Fleur Jeremiah, Lola Rogers Joint performances by a Finnish dance artist and an Iranian musician who applied What means can for asylum in Finland are leaving many in tears, and audience discussions on the topic Graphic design & layout: Inka Kosonen of immigration have become an integral part of the piece. contemporary Many artists are now taking a more forthright approach to seizing upon topical dance use to influ- Photographers: Tanja Ahola, Aino Huovio, issues. In recent years Finland has seen the creation of a number of dance works ence our reality? Jarkko Hänninen, Urban Jörén, Tuukka based around themes that clearly delve into issues such as environmental problems, Koski, Sanna Käsmä, Lilja Lehmuskallio, Pirje sustainable development, violence and racialisation. However, the political aspects Mykkänen, Katri Naukkarinen, Laura Oja, of art are not restricted to topics expressed verbally; how people are portrayed or the Yoshi Omori, Ernest Protasievics, Perttu Saksa, context in which a work is performed also constitute political content. Jani-Matti Salo, Mark Stubbs, Joonas Tikkanen, Dance not only inspires us, it is also doing its part to tackle society’s problems. Uupi Tirronen, Heikki Tuuli, Ilpo Vainionpää, Sara Vihavainen. Sanna Kangasluoma EDITORIAL NEW FACES Editor 02 Can we tackle society’s problems through dance? 20 Emmi Venna: Caught in friction ON THE COVER: Superhero Urho \ Sanna Kangasluoma between the body and the world / Maija Karhunen Choreographer: Jarkko Mandelin 21 Kati Korosuo: Dancing for equality / Maija Karhunen Cover photography: Aino Huovio NEWS DANCE INFO FINLAND Dance Info Finland acts as a gateway 04 We all dance in Finland – even Santa Claus PERSPECTIVES Printed by: Arkmedia Oy to Finnish dance art through international networks 06 Without Zodiak, it wouldn’t be the same 22 Jarkko Mandelin – Love, respect, and trust / Raisa Rauhamaa With Gratitude: The Ministry of Education and by providing information about dance in Fin- 07 Tero Saarinen: At the sources of primal force 28 Designing lighting and sound / Niko Hallikainen and Culture in Finland land. Our mission is to support the development 08 Kirsi Monni: Teaching and research are intertwined 33 30 years of lighting and sound design of Finnish dance art, and to open new horizons and 09 Breakdancing against school bullying at the University of the Arts / Sanna Kangasluoma Finnish Dance in Focus is create professional opportunities and connections for Finnish dance published once a year. artists. We are partners in collaboration projects and exchange pro- PHENOMENA grammes, and work closely with the Nordic dance sector and platforms. 10 Compassion makes us human – CHOREOGRAPHER IN FOCUS ISSN-1795-9837 Alpo Aaltokoski & Ali Alawad / Inka Reijonen 34 Johanna Nuutinen invests in physical imagination Founded in 1980, we are funded mainly by the Ministry of Culture and 12 It’s political – Sanna Kekäläinen, Sonya Lindfors and / Jenny Jägerhorn-Tabermann Education in Finland. Read more on www.danceinfo.fi. Tuomo Railo / Olli Ahlroos 38–47 Directory of Finnish Dance P 4 FINNISH DANCE IN FOCUS 2017–2018 NEWS NEWS FINNISH DANCE IN FOCUS 2017–2018 P 5 1.&4. The City leadership danced the cam- Santa Claus took part in paign’s ballet choreography created by the Dance challenge Marina Tirkkonen in the stunning Empire © Santa Claus Office Hall in Helsinki City Hall. The video spread quickly on social media, with over 80,000 views making it the City Executive Office’s \ most popular Facebook video ever. 2. “We got well-deserved attention both Panu Varstala made kids 1. 2. internally and externally – and around a dance his choreography dozen cities have since made their own for the campaign dance videos”, says Senior Advisor Hannu © Jarkko Hänninen Hyttinen. \ “I’m proud of Helsinki”, commented one 3. city resident on social media. Street dance for Nordic Royalties at Helsinki DANCE LEAVES ITS MARK Market Square The Dancing Finland campaign has offered © Sara Vihavainen previous non-dancers the opportunity to give dance a try. Some surprising par- ticipants have produced their own Dance Challenge videos, and just before Midsum- mer, Finland’s official Santa Claus took up the challenge on Twitter. Santa and his elves produced their own dance video and tried out street dance for the first time. Dance has also left its mark on people and communities. Getting involved in dance 3. 4. made Malmi’s rector think about how the Parish communicates: “In focusing on verbal communication, the other elements of what make us human have clearly been forgotten or fallen to the IN JUST OVER half a year the Dancing Finland video based on the campaign’s contempo- wayside. I hope that the light of dance and campaign had already reached 1.5 million rary dance choreography by choreographer using our bodies become more widespread WE ALL DANCE IN people. Ordinary people in schools, organi- Panu Varstala. in parish activities around Finland.” sations and working communities – and According to the rector, getting The Dancing Finland campaign will con- even Finland’s official Santa Claus – have involved in the dance increased self-esteem tinue until the end of 2017. And dance will taken part in the Dance Challenge. The and brought joy both to employees and continue long beyond that! FINLAND – EVEN dance videos created by City of Helsinki parishioners: ‘The employees involved felt \ and Malmi Parish have brought together the working community grew closer and employees and touched audiences. the atmosphere improved thanks to the The Dancing Finland campaign features “We published our video late on a dance moment.’ choreography created by choreographers SANTA CLAUS Sunday evening. That evening there were in six different dance genres. Anyone can plenty of people by themselves, surfing “I’M PROUD OF HELSINKI’ – THE learn the choreography of their choice TEXT Inka Reijonen the internet, who contacted me to tell MAYORS” DANCE VIDEOS CREATED with the help of a video or teacher. me about their life situation, and how our A WHOLE NEW IMAGE OF THE CITY You can participate in the Challenge by City Mayors, a church in Helsinki and even Santa Claus have all dived dance had brought them a few moments The Dancing Finland campaign has even photographing or filming your own dance of hope and comfort”, states Malmi’s rector persuaded mayors to get dancing. The series and sharing it on social media – and you headfirst into dance and published their dance videos on YouTube. The Heikki Arikka. of dance videos featuring city employees can challenge anyone to get involved. year 2017 is the centenary of Finland’s independence, and Dance Info A total of 27 employees from Malmi started off with the City of Helsinki, which www.dancingfinland.fi Parish worked together with Glims & Gloms challenged all cities and municipalities in Finland has challenged everyone to dance in honour of the occasion. Dance Theatre to produce their own dance Finland to take part. P 6 FINNISH DANCE IN FOCUS 2017–2018 NEWS NEWS FINNISH DANCE IN FOCUS 2017–2018 P 7 MAIJA HIRVANEN: creative context, along with the audience It’s difficult to even imagine how I without regular funding. A place where you For those who have time (2012) relationship, that I gained from working at would be without Zodiak or the people can create and perform your own work, Lighting design: Heikki Paasonen Zodiak, have proved to be irreplaceable. there, with whom I’ve had so many fruit- as well as partaking, watching, sweating, Zodiak’s ongoing dialogue with for- ful collaborations! Actually, I should thank discussing. Spending time. eign dance artists and producers inspires Zodiak for the profile I now have in the The mark Zodiak has left on me is one contemporary dance in Finland, and it has contemporary dance field.” of thousands of faces: a huge group of art- helped me to expand my own networks.” ists, creators, audience members whom I’ve Maija Hirvanen, Zodiak house choreogra- met. Zodiak’s mark reminds me that I’m not Heikki Paasonen, lighting designer, recipi- pher 2013–2015: alone in this work. ent of awards such as the Finland Prize “A space becomes a place the more Zodiak’s mark has sympathetic ears, in 2012: time you spend there.