Tampere Region Festivals offer fantastic experiences for dance lovers in April and May, as the folk dance festival Tradi and the contemporary dance focused Tampere Dance Current invite audiences to enjoy a diverse range of performances.
Folk Dance Festival Tradi | 4–6 April, 2025
Tradi is the latest addition to Pispalan Schottische dance events, merging the long-standing Tanssimania and Tanssimylly events. The festival gathers together both folk dance enthusiasts and professionals, featuring performances such as the Tanssimylly showcase, which this year presents 44 different folk dance groups for dancers aged 15 and older.
The TRADI weekend kicks off with Tanhujalostamo, an event exploring the intersection of tradition and the future. The discussion is introduced by Associate Professor Pekka Isomursu, who will give a talk on Folk Art and Artificial Intelligence. Throughout the weekend, the audience can enjoy dance jams, evening gatherings, folk music, and new folk dance performances.
A highlight of Friday evening is the performance called Ilmasta tehtyjä, choreographed by Maiju Laurila to the music of Samuli Putro. Sunday’s closing concert will feature new dance pieces from Ruuhkaryhmä and Motoran Pelmakat. Meanwhile, Saturday’s Tradijams will include concerts by the folk music group Polenta and accordion virtuoso Antti Paalanen.
More information: https://tradi.fi/in-english/
Tampere Dance Current | 20–25 May, 2025
The annual contemporary dance festival Tampere Dance Current, organized by Dance Theatre MD, brings together top contemporary dance artists from Finland and beyond. During the festival week, performances at Hällä Stage will include HUM, choreographed by Tuija Lappalainen, and Crossing Latitudes by Favela Vera Ortiz. Another anticipated piece is The Last Rite of Spring, a collaboration between choreographer Renan Martins and the Theatre Academy’s TADaC dance collective. In a special double-show evening, audiences can experience Resurrecting Dead Darlings, a co-production by Thar Be Dragons, Raekallio Corp, and Kekäläinen & Co., alongside Epä/tosi, a creation by Katja Mustonen and her team.
This year’s program also highlights Lithuanian contemporary dance with two standout performances. Hands up!, a solo piece by Agnietė Lisičkinaitė, draws inspiration from political protests, while Still Waiting: Hairy, choreographed by Dovydas Strimaitis, presents a unique performance featuring three dancers and their hair. These productions are part of the Lithuanian Culture in Tampere 2025 project, organized by the Lithuanian Culture Institute, which brings Lithuanian culture to various festivals in Tampere throughout the year.
In addition to stage performances, the festival offers various opportunities for audiences to engage with contemporary dance, such as short film screenings, discussions through the professional Kiertoliike forum, and open post-performance talks. The festival also extends into urban spaces with unique dance interventions, led this year by festival dance artist Jukka Tarvainen.
More information: https://tanssivirtaa.net/en/home-en/
Photo: Agnietė Lisičkinaitė: Hands up!, photographer Dainius Putinas
