Tanssivat Timantit: Kohtaamisia – Encounters

There are many kinds of encounters in the performance of the Tanssivat timantit group.

The idea behind its choreography is based on respect for the relativity of life and existence. Everything in the manifesting world intertwines, impresses, relies on, coexists and is in relationships with others.

The Encounters show was created with the idea of mentoring. The group has worked together both as a group and in pairs to enable deeper communication and individual support. The way of working involves the coexistence of a wide range of activities, ways of interaction and interpretations, and an effort to find a wide range of ways of communicating so that each member of the team is heard and everyone understands each other.

Tanssivat timantit is an inclusive dance group based in Kokkola. It was founded by Kokkola-based choreographer Kati Raatikainen (Helsinki) together with intellectually disabled dancers Maria Lahti (Himanka), Jarmo Patana (Kokkola) and Sanna Tornikoski (Kokkola). The Encounters project is a continuation of Kvartetto (Quartet, 2019), which premiered at the Kokkola Winter Dance Festival and has toured, for example, the Tampere Theatre Festival in 2021, the Helsinki’s Zodiak Centre for New Dance in 2021 and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2022. After a successful reception and meaningful shared work, the group wanted to continue their journey together.

Working group:
Dance and choreography: Maria Lahti, Jarmo Patana, Sanna Tornikoski, Riina Kalmi, Anders Lillhonga
Choreographic compilation, direction and production: Kati Raatikainen
Visual design: Minttu Nikula
Sound design: Markku Essel
Lighting design: Olli Kivelä