WELCOME

The Full Moon Festival is the most important festival that presents Finnish contemporary dance.This year’s programme has 16 works, including 5 premieres, and we have focused on presenting the work of experienced choreographers. The festival week thus offers our international guests a wonderful opportunity to see works by several of our most important masters, all of whom have played important roles in the development of Finnish dance.

Uotinen’s Shout, a traumatic portrayal of a young man forming his identity, is one of dance art’s landmark works. Academy member Kuusela’s work Women and Suitcases ponders how power and its use manifests in a woman’s body. And what about role models and taboos? Sirén’s The Rose Window is a warm and tender portrayal of a woman which radiates a mature woman’s wisdom. Viita is an intoxicating work which is performed by a dream team of seven strong, nuanced female dancers, while Raatikainen’s Lataamo is a sharp and biting humorous description of the contemporary rat race. Karttunen’s Days of Disco takes us back to the 1970s in this intimate and sensitive portrayal of people, whose unique experiences give rise to different kinds of phenomena. Risu’s Dark sensitively asks questions about death.

I would like to take this opportunity to warmly welcome our
international guests to Pyhäjärvi.


Alpo Aaltokoski
Aristic director