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GENERAL INFORMATION

Updated in August 2006

Network of Regional Centres for Dance

The Regional Dance Centre of Western Finland is one of five Finnish regional dance centres and operates in the regions of Southwest Finland and Satakunta. The three main tasks of regional dance centres are: to further the availability and accessibility of dance as an art form; to increase employment among dancers; and to promote cooperation.

The network of regional dance centres includes the Dance Centre of Western Finland, the Dance Centre of Northern Finland, the Dance Centre of Eastern Finland, the Dance Centre of Central Finland and the Zodiak- Center for New Dance.

The Finnish Ministry of Education has provided initial partial funding for the regional dance centres for 2005-2009. In addition, the Regional Dance Centre of Western Finland is supported by the cities of Turku and Pori, the Arts Council of Southwest Finland, the Arts Council of Satakunta, and the regional councils of Southwest Finland and Satakunta.

Regional Dance Centre of Western Finland

In its first year of operation (2005), the Regional Dance Centre of Western Finland has concentrated on the coproduction of new freelance dance art work. Centre has achieved short- or long-term employment for more than 70 professionals of dance. Co-production support has been provided to facilitate the production of more than ten dance performances. Financial support has been directed towards salaries, rehearsal and performance space rental and marketing costs. Tour operations have started off strongly, as several regional dance productions have been invited to visit other places around Finland. The centre has also carried out audience work, training and consulting tasks in relation to dance.

One of the centre’s main activities has been the creation of a regional stage network. The Southwest Finland contract stage network now includes Loimaa, Kemiö, Salo and Uusikaupunki as well as Turku. During the first phase of the initiative, the centre is focusing on creating a tour network; in the next phase, the emphasis will be on programming and audience work for the regional dance stages.

Turku, Capital of Culture in 2011

Turku is a haven for culture, a future European Capital of Culture and also a city of dance. Turku is the home of many freelance dancers and three major dance stages: Barker Theatre- The stage for Indipendent dance in Turku; Pro Manilla Foundation; and the Dance Theatre ERIs studio. The Pro Manilla Foundation organises the annual Manifesti festival of performing arts.

Professional dance education is organised at two institutions in Turku: the dance teacher training offered at the art academy of the Turku University of Applied Sciences, and the vocational dancer degree offered by the Turku Conservatory. There are also many private dance schools in the area.

Main operators

Western Finland is a lively field for dance with high professional standards. A major operator in Satakunta is the P.D.C. Pori Dance Company. The strength of Southwest Finland lies in young dancers, a diverse field of freelancers and two state-supported dance companies: The AB Dance Company (Aurinkobaletti) and Dance Theatre ERI (Tanssiteatteri Eri). There are also many dance associations, including Pikininimeri ry, Turku dansart ry, the Southwest Finland Advisory Board for Dance and Jattanssi ry.

Mission

To promote the equal availability and accessibility of dance regionally and socially.

To increase opportunities for producing dance performances, thereby improving job opportunities for dance professionals.

To enable and encourage co-operation

For further information, please visit:

www.l-tanssi.fi (information on the Regional Dance Centre of Western Finland)

www.tanssinaluekeskukset.fi (information on the Network of Regional Centres for Dance)

www.danceinfo.fi (Finnish dance database)

Companies, theatres and associations

www.pikininimeri.fi

www.aurinkobaletti.com

www.eridance.net