Press release 29.6.2017
At the Kaustinen festival, nostalgia will clash with modern show dance, Karelian dance tradition will meet western and purple turns and wedding dance steps will be practised for Saturday's big wedding party. Audiences will be treated to dance halls and proper audience dances not only in the big arena, but also, for the first time in a long time, on the Penttilkä bridge. Talented dance groups from the Czech Republic and Serbia will bring a touch of their own traditions to the party.
Tanhuka rebels Jukarainen and Hässäkkä
The Finnish dance tradition at its best represented by a master dancer Hannu Nipulin a dance concert put together by Helvi Jukaraisen best. Helvi Jukarainen was one of the key influencers of folk dance in the 20th century. Even in the 1940s, the radical of his time was still forced to create his own choreographies in secret by traditional puritans, who considered only dances ”found” and recorded on field trips to be ”real” folk dance. However, Jukarainen's dance compositions are so traditional that they are hard to distinguish from ”proper” dances. Jukarainen's most beloved choreographies from Ristilaukta to Juhlavals will be performed at a dance concert in Keskipohjanmaa Arena on Saturday 15 July at 16:00 by Lahti Tanhuujien Riijarit, Mallusjoki folk dancers, Nurmijärvi Pörriäiset and Kaustinen Ottoset.
I wonder what the guardians of tradition, who once disapproved of Jukarainen's dances, would think of the dance composition by the Oulu folk dance group Hässäkä? Elsa Antikainen and Hanna Poikelan choreography, Hässäkkä goes Ultra Bra, with 25 dancers and musicians, will be performed in the Central Ostrobothnia Arena on Friday 14 July at midnight. At the same time, Iltavilli will kick off, promising dance lovers a night of gypsy fun. Petri Kauppinen by the wild. The big brother of the Evening Night, the legendary Night Theatre, will be held on Thursday 13 July at 23.15. For years, people have wondered how an impossible initial chaos eventually progresses into a relatively sedate pattern with the masterful dancer Antti Savilammen command and the accelerating pedal of the JPP.
Enjoy dance concerts and let yourself be seduced
The Central Ostrobothnian arena offers eye candy from local and foreign dance companies every day. For example, the East-West Folk Dance Match on Friday 14 July at 15:00 will showcase the rich Karelian dance tradition with three dance groups from Lappeenranta's Rajan Youth. From Western Finland, the Polokkarit from Oulu and, of course, Kaustinen's own Ottoset, whose 200-strong group will have enough performers for the whole week.
The week will also include a presentation of purpurees and wedding dances from different regions of Finland. Dancers can learn about the Kaustis purple tradition at the Keskipohjanmaa arena on Thursday at 10 am and at the Kallioklub at 14.30. There will be a workshop for musicians at Cafe Mondo on Thursday and Friday from 11.30 am. A purp workshop will be held at the Kallioklub on Friday from 12 to 3 p.m. With the knowledge gained, you can participate in the public purp as part of Saturday's wedding ceremonies.
The public can learn domestic and international dance steps in guided dance evenings and workshops throughout the week. And, of course, there will also be traditional public dances. For example, the nostalgic Bridge Dances will take place after a long break at the Penttilkä Bridge on Wednesday 12 July from 18-21, with Kaustinen Torviseitsikko and the Boys of America (USA), JPP and T for Three.
The Czech folk dance group Javorina and Kotar and the Serbian Mladost Avala will bring international colour to the dance programme. Both groups will perform from Monday to Wednesday and Mladost Avala will perform on Thursday.
Dance highlights from the week's programme:
MONDAY
Europe dances, Czech Republic and Serbia at 20-21, Keskipohjanmaa Arena
Aapintuva's players' dances at 22-22.45, Keskipohjanmaa-areena
T for Three, dance atmosphere with tunes from the 50s and 60s at 22.45-23.45, Keskipohjanmaa-areena
TUESDAY
Mukulamatinea at 13-14.15, Keskipohjanmaa-areena
Folk Dance Surf & Turf, Czech Republic, Serbia and Vinkkarit at 19-20, Keskipohjanmaa Arena
Décadas - the power of flamenco at 20.30, Kaustinen hall
WEDNESDAY
Cultures meet, e.g. Czech Republic and Serbia 14.30-16, Keskipohjanmaa-areena
Bridge dances at 18-21 at the Penttilkä bridge
Purple to Pedal, Purpuridansarna and Ottosten groups at 19-20, Keskipohjanmaa-areena
Public dances, Lasse Hoikka & Souvarit at 21-22.15, Keskipohjanmaa-areena
THURSDAY
And then we just tanhuthinki, the 200-person dance team of the Kaustinen Youth Society and their friends at 13-14.15, Keskipohjanmaa-areena
International Afternoon, including Serbian dance group at 15-16.30, Keskipohjanmaa-areena
Night Theatre, Antti Savilampi and JPP at 23.15-00.15, Keskipohjanmaa Arena
FRIDAY
Lightly in the middle of the day, Rajan Youth, JunioriOttoset, Koplaus at 13-14, Keskipohjanmaa-areena
Folk dance East-West match at 15-16.15, Keskipohjanmaa-arena
Hässäkkä goes Ultra Bra and Iltavilli at 00.15-01.30, Keskipohjanmaa-areena
SATURDAY
Helvi Jukarainen's best at 16-17.15, Keskipohjanmaa-areena
For more information and interview requests:
Head of Information Tove Djupsjöbacka
p. 040-6585340
press(at)kaustinen.net