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MOVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE RESEARCH /
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Students’ experiences of dance education in Outokumpu
Integral dance education
The dance education in Outokumpu is a three-year, full-time, vocational programme leading to a recognized qualification in dance.
We are a division of North-Karelia College, and our department is situated in the small town of Outokumpu, in Eastern Finland. Outokumpu was once known for its copper mine. Nowadays, the historic mine is the heart of our college, providing fascinating surroundings for art studies.
Dance education in Outokumpu is based on contemporary dance techniques, mainly release techniques. Alongside contemporary dance we also teach other techniques, such as improvisation techniques (including contact improvisation), composition work, Feldenkrais, and ballet. In addition we have courses in complementary physical practices, for example, acrobatics, jazz, and other applied dance techniques. We also have courses in video making and art history.
The core of our education places great emphasis on the research aspect of the student’s training process. We support the individual's journey with the body, through research and experimentation, to help students find their own personal dance practice. Research areas a student might work in could include the experience of the body moving, approaches to composition, and the philosophy of movement itself as a phenomenon. We provide a broad basis of techniques, and students are encouraged to integrate approaches to find their own personal style.
The college is associated with a strong professional network of recognized artists who work with students as guest teachers or associates. This network provides possibilities to research new ways to bring dance into the environment and society. Specific community and environmental projects are key parts of our syllabus; as the students reflect on how they wish to pursue their practice in the world. The college produces responsible, engaged, and informed dance students, with the skills needed to work successfully in dance.
Professional tools
Dance education in Outokumpu prepares students for the professional dance fields. On-the-job-learning projects, production courses, and open meetings and discussions with professionals give a realistic picture of the dancer’s work. After graduation our students usually achieve a high record of employment in dance productions, both in Finland and overseas. Many also choose to continue their studies in other dance institutions. There are some of our former students currently represented in P.A.R.T.S (Brussels), SNDO (Amsterdam) and Theatre Academy of Finland (Helsinki).
International & professional network
Some of our vocational courses are taught in English because a number of visiting teachers come from abroad. Our students come from Finland, Sweden, Germany, Russia, Netherlands, Lithuania, UK, and France. These will be your peers when you graduate. In last calls we had applicants from 25 different countries.
Our multicultural guest faculty includes teachers such as:
Khosro Adibi (Iran/Belgium)
Bruno Caverna (Brazil)
Sybrig Dokter (Netherlands/Sweden)
Nina Gasteva & Misha Ivanov (Russia)
Armand van den Hamer (Netherlands)
Riikka Theresa Innanen (Finland)
Reijo Kela (Finland)
Maxim Komaro (Finland)
Malcolm Manning (Great Britain/Finland)
Cruz Mata (Venezuela/Belgium)
Sanna Myllylahti (Finland/Netherlands)
Riitta Pasanen-Willberg (Finland)
Martina la Ragione (Italy)
Francesco Scavetta (Italy)
Sanna Silvennoinen (Finland)
Violeta Todo Gonzalez (Spain/France)
Arja Tiili (Finland)
Teppo Virtanen (Finland)
Caroline Waters (Great Britain)
Tessa Wills (Great Britain)
Mioko Yoshihara (Japan/Belgium)
Natalia Zhestovskaja & Grigory Glazunov (Russia)
Our studios and theatre space also function as a working environment for artists in residence. For example, the famous Iguan Dance Theatre, from Russia, and new circus group Circo Aereo, from Finland, have both found the fascinating surroundings of Outokumpu to be a stimulating working space. In addition, several individual artists spend time in Outokumpu creating their productions. The presence of recognized, professional dance artists creates a natural dialogue between students and professionals.
This is one of many ways we foster the important relationships between the students and the professional dance field from the outset of the course. Our students are active in searching for exchange projects and on-the-job learning places outside of the college, and often overseas. During this and the past year, for example, they have worked in Germany, Portugal, India, Spain, Brazil and Myanmar.
The festivals which we produce, and co-produce, foster links with the professional world of dance. In Outokumpu we have an annual spring festival, Kevätkumpu. In Helsinki, we co-operate with the dance company Gruppen Fyra in organizing Kaktus-festival, and with Ateneum-Hall/ Finnish National Gallery we have organized Indie Art Factory. The next Indie Art Factory is planned to take place in Kulttuuritehdas Korjaamo, in Helsinki.
Study costs
Education in Finland is totally free of charge. The college also provides one free meal per school day for the students. Some study costs, such as supplies for personal use, are funded by students themselves.
Applying
Last spring we received 140 applications. In the audition we selected 14 new students.
The next application call will take place 1st-19th of March 2010. During the application time, please fill out the official application form at the internet site:
www.haenyt.fi
Notice that only those who filled the application within the official application time, will be invited to the audition.
The audition will be held in Outokumpu, 26th-27th of May 2010.
The audition is a workshop-like event. It consists classes in contemporary dance, ballet, improvisation, movement exploration and performance. Our aim is to test the applicant's readiness to receive and work the given tasks. Necessarily the applicant doesn't need to be an expert in all the tested fields, but rather we see how he/she is motivated to work, without selective boundaries. We check the applicant's ability to develop as a dancer and a performer.
Notice that we do not give any preparative tasks / advance assignments for the audition. All the tasks will be given during the audition in Outokumpu. However it is advisable to keep on training especially contemporary dance techniques during the spring term.
Open workshops
Along with the basic education programme, we also organise workshops, which are open to everyone. Joining in the workshops is a good way to get familiar with our education, surroundings, and students. More detailed information of the workshops will be posted here regularly.
Autumn course 23rd-27th of November 2009
Open workshop for everyone who wants to develop in contemporary dance (including release and floor work), and improvisation. The classes take place daily between 09:30 and 16:00. On Wednesday and Thursday evenings you can watch graduates' final work solos in the college's theatre.
The course fee is 90 ¤. The fee includes the classes, accommodation in Servo (the dance studio building), and the entrance to solo dance performances on Wednesday and Thursday.
Orientation workshop 24th-25th of May 2010
This extremely popular 2-day workshop is an introduction to the methods and techniques used at our dance education. Both working days include contemporary dance technique, movement exploration and improvisation techniques from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm. In the evenings the regular students perform creations made during the spring time. It is also likely that improvisation happenings will take place during the late evenings of the early summer.
Course fee is 65 ¤. The fee includes the classes, accommodation in Servo (the dance studio building), and the entrance to dance performances.
NOTE! There are limited places in the workshops. Book your space soon!
Sign up for the workshop by e-mailing to dance@pkky.fi Payment should be made, in cash, at the beginning of the course.
Accommodation and arriving Outokumpu
During the audition and orientation workshop you can accommodate yourself for free at our dance studio building. The building is called Servo and its address is Kummunkatu 26, Outokumpu. The building is just next to the central bus station of Outokumpu. If you want to sleep in Servo, please bring your sleeping bag and travel mattress. There are toilet, shower, and kitchen facilities in Servo. You can also eat lunch at the college canteen for 5,20 ¤. If you want to stay in a hotel, you can find the local hotel information at:
www.hotellimalmikumpu.fi
Outokumpu is situated in East Finland, in North Karelia province, 45 kilometres West of Joensuu and 100 kilometres East of Kuopio. The closest railway station and airport are in Joensuu, although there are connections from Kuopio railway station and airport as well.
Notice that Finland is a very large country and distances are long. For example a train journey from Helsinki to Joensuu takes 5 and a half hours and a bus from Joensuu to Outokumpu takes 1 hour.
The best connections to East Finland are from Helsinki. If you decide to fly to Tampere, first check carefully the connections to Outokumpu. Often the flights to Tampere arrive in such times that there are no straight and quick connections to the east, and you will need to find a hotel and travel one extra day.
By bus:
There are coach connections to Outokumpu both from Joensuu and Kuopio. For timetable and ticket information, check:
www.matkahuolto.fi
Notice! When you arrive in Outokumpu from the direction of Joensuu, do not get off the bus at Lammenkatu, where the main building of the college is. Rather, travel all the way to the centre of Outokumpu. Our studio building Servo is just on the right side of the bus when it is parked in the central bus station.
By train:
Approaching from the south (Helsinki) the closest railway station is in Joensuu. If you arrive from the west (Turku, Tampere), the closest railway station, or actually a stop, is in Viinijärvi. Train timetable and ticket information can be found at:
www.vr.fi
By plane:
The closest airport is Finavia Joensuu airport, situated 43 kilometres roughly east of Outokumpu. The address of the airport is Lentoasemantie, 80140 Joensuu. There are 2 companies Finnair and Finncomm flying frequently from Helsinki to Joensuu. For Finnair timetable and ticket information check:
www.finnair.fi
There is also a cheap company Finncomm flying to Joensuu. For Finncomm timetable and ticket information check:
www.finncomm.fi
When you arrive by plane, notice that there is no straight bus connection from Joensuu airport to Outokumpu. Instead you need to take a bus first to Joensuu centre and then a bus connection to Outokumpu. After every arriving flight there is a bus from the airport leaving to Joensuu town centre.
More information
head of dance education Jyrki Haapala
tel. +358 50 571 1164
jyrki.haapala@pkky.fi
dance@pkky.fi
Sirpa Utriainen
puh. +358 50 502 0385
sirpa.utriainen@pkky.fi
Eija Sorjonen
puh. +358 50 588 6819
eija.sorjonen@pkky.fi
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