RECORD BREAKING COURSE OFFERING – COURSES FROM MUMS TO ATHLETES AND KIDDIES

The Kuopio Dance Festival is offering plenty of training options for professional dancers, sports people and beginners alike. Course teachers include some of the top names in international dance education, such as Billy Siegenfeld, the artistic director of the American Jump Rhythm Jazz Project. During the week, dance enthusiasts can immerse themselves in balletone, jazzdance, bollywood, afro-disco Ndombolo, classical ballet and contemporary dance. There will be over 40 courses available.

The innovative Jump Rhythm Jazz technique developed by Billy Siegenfeld aims to turn the dancer’s body into an energetic rhythm instrument. Central to the technique is the use of the dancer’s own voice. The technique is advocated by the Jump Rhythm Jazz Project from Chicago, where Siegenfeld is the artistic director.

Carina Bomers, a ballet teacher with the Canada National Ballet School and a member of their
artistic working group, will bring the latest trends in ballet education to Kuopio.

New to the Festival are Mama–Pilates, which is intended for those suffering with back problems and particularly mothers-to-be, and Pilates lessons for athletes. Katia Enbuske’s bollywood lessons are an exciting fusion of various dance styles in Indian cinematic fashion. Balletone combines ballet, Pilates and stretching. The Congolese dance craze Ndombolo mixes afro, Latin dances, dancehall reggae and hiphop.

In the Children’s Dance House, the kids will get to know the characters of the Aika-ykkri show through movement and art. The adults’ workshop will involve the use of music and dance in education and teaching.

The boys’ 22^nd residential dance course will feature a younger  children’s group for 7 to 9 year olds, who can take part in the course for 3 days, accompanied by an adult. Awarded for his work as a developer of boys’ dance, the Head of Vantaa Dance Academy, Isto Turpeinen, will teach the children contemporary dance using the “rough plank” method he has developed. The course has groups for older boys as well.

The Elke-Fennia Forums are an informal performance opportunity for dance and music professionals and students at the Music Centre.  They provide an opportunity to get to know the artistes before the day’s main event through performances and interviews with Jorma Uotinen.

The Kuopio Dance Festival is the oldest and largest dance Festival in the  Nordic Countries. The weeks’ main shows, market square and club shows,  and other fringe events as well as the dance courses are expected to attract nearly 40 000 visitors.

The Festival programme is available on the Festival website www.kuopiodancefestival.fi.

Agency WDN (World dance news)