This Open Studio event invites the audience to witness the artistic process behind the final artistic work of the artists-students in the MA in Dance Performance program, by the Theatre Academy Dance Collective (TADaC) in the Theatre Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki. In the curriculum of the MA -studies, TADaC provides an artistic learning environment where artists-students can collaborate with choreographers and makers from various cultural backgrounds and locations, including Finland. The study unit of this artistic work is not only a collective learning process about artistic production, but also offers artists-students the opportunity to tour their work across various venues. By doing so, they can share the work with diverse audiences, and familiarize themselves with professional platforms for potential future collaborations. The Open Studio, realized in collaboration with the Moving in November, marks a meaningful step towards opening this kind of possibilities for dance artists in this MA-program.
This year, Brazilian choreographer and dancer Renan Martins will choreograph a piece with TADaC. The Moving in November audience is invited to visit the Open Studio, where the working group will share their artistic process. Martins’ work, immersed in practices that celebrate togetherness and resonate with musicality, aims to craft a performance born from genuine collaboration. The choreographer strives to cultivate “an environment where dancers can passionately explore their personal interests and embark on a journey of self-discovery within a cohesive group.”
„I believe the Open Studio offers a meaningful opportunity to not only meet the MA -cohort but also to think together what it means to pursue a higher-education degree in the arts today. We warmly welcome everyone to join us and experience the open exploration of dance and collaboration.“ (Simo Kellokumpu, Lecturer, MA in Dance Performance program, Theatre Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki)
This event is a part of the Focus on the Local Landscape program within the frame of Moving in November.
Students from the MA in Dance Performance -programme in the Theatre Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki:
Inka Auvinen (they/she, b. 2000) is an international dance artist and performer who is infinitely curious about the subtleties of performership. They graduated from Trinity Laban (London) with a BA in Contemporary Dance and followed on to complete the DSP-programme in Dart (Berlin). They have worked with choreographers such as Anton Lachký and Fabio Liberti, performed in Sadler’s Wells Theatre with Dart Dance Company and enjoyed the beautiful encounters on and off stage. Inka is currently doing their MA in Dance Performance at the Theatre Academy.
Altınay Kapsız (she/her, b. 1999) is a dance artist/maker and performer originally from Istanbul, currently based in Helsinki. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts at Istanbul Bilgi University and is now pursuing her master’s degree in Dance Performance at the University of the Arts Helsinki. Her background includes various physical practices such as contemporary dance, somatics, Ballroom-Latin American dance sport, as well as experimental and physical theater. Her artistic practice focuses on generating performative materials through experimentation, blending dance and theatrical elements.
Mathilda Muk (| Vesa) is a Helsinki based dancer | performer | dance teacher (BA) | dance artist. At the moment Mathilda is doing | being in her Dance Performance master’s studies in Theatre Academy, Helsinki. Before Teak Mathilda did her bachelor’s degree in Dance Education (2019) at Turku University of Applied Sciences (Arts Academy). Mathilda considers herself as multipassionate and has varying interest towards different disciplines and practices in the field of art. At the moment Mathilda is especially interested in viewing (| tarkastella) ways of working. Learning, unlearning and relearning are some of the keywords that have stayed with her for a longer period of time.
Saila Pönkä (b.1996) is a Helsinki based dance artist and who now doing their MA in Dance Performance at TeaK. They have a BA in dance from the Theatre Academy of the Uniarts Helsinki. Apart from art education they have done studies also in philosophy at the University of Helsinki and in engineering physics at the Aalto University. These other disciplines inform them also in the context of dance making. Lately one particular interest for them has been all those landscapes from where the feel of dance can emerge for a person and how those moments of movement are experienced.
Joma Richter she/ they (b.1994) is a transdisciplinary artist, rooted in performance and visual art practices. They studied dance and choreography at HZT Berlin and in Helsinki at the Theatre Academy, as well as Textile Design at the Kunstschule Weißensee. Furthermore they have completed a professional training as a seamstress, engaging in the craft of clothes making. Through their education and personal interests, their artistic practices have been constantly oscillating between fine art, handwork and performance. At the moment they are doing their MA in Dance Performance at Teak.
Sointu Saraste is a dance artist and performer. She has studied her BA of Contemporary dance at Trinity Laban in London. She has as well trained in AFI program in Bologna, Italy, as well as acted and choreographed at Ylioppilasteatteri theatre. Sointu’s artistic interests lay in working with emotions, exhaustion, and cuteness. She’s also trying to get to know monsters, robots, mushrooms, and other interesting beings.
Marjukka Savolainen is a Helsinki-based dance artist – after graduating with a BA (Hons) Dance from England (2013), she has been working with choreographers/directors in productions of contemporary dance and performance arts in Finland and abroad. For Marjukka, dance is a way to dive into unknown, to encounter inexplicable. Where does potential of dance lie?
Anette Toiviainen (she/her) is a dancer/dance artist currently based in Helsinki, Finland. She got her education at Stockholm University of the Arts, Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna and Copenhagen Contemporary Dance School. Anette has worked with Skånes Dansteater (internship), Tero Saarinen Company, Thomas Bentin, Emrecan Tanis and Susanna Leinonen Company amongst others. Her solo ’adulthood.’ participated to 26. International solo-tanz-theater festival Stuttgart. Another solo work ’Duetto’ got its premiere as part of the Generation 2023 exhibition at the contemporary art museum Amos Rex.