This summer, the nine-day Kuopio Dance Festival will for the first time follow the lead of choreographer Kenneth Kvarnström. The central themes of his repertoire are street dance and poetics.
“In recent years, street dance has brought a new perspectives and techniques to contemporary dance. Many choreographers have started as street dancers and are now creating multifaceted works,” says Kenneth Kvarnström, the new artistic director of Kuopio Dance Festival. For the festival, he has selected works based on or inspired by street dance from France and Germany.
“Street dance and poetics are an interesting pairing. Poetics is present in each performance in its own way – it can be ‘silent’ or hidden, but at the same time full of different sensations.”
The highlight of the festival is Sol Invictus, a powerful celebration of dance by French-Algerian choreographer Hervé Koubi, which will be performed in the large Olvi Arena. The seventeen dancers in the piece include street dancers, battle champions, acrobats and dancers from the Amazonia, Siberia and elsewhere who have developed their own unique styles.
“Koubi creates something magical that speaks to many senses. I dare say Sol Invictus is one of the top five productions currently touring the world,” says Kvarnström.
Elle Sofe Sara from Norway brings the message of the indigenous Sámi people to Kuopio in her powerful performance Vástádus eana / The Answer is Land, which has attracted much attention worldwide.
Expression influenced by a variety of inspirations can also be found in Jyrki Karttunen’s acclaimed family performance The Seasons, which combines dance and circus.
Kuopio Dance Festival programme also includes several other international performances. In addition to the main programme, the festival offers a wide range of side events, courses, camps and seminars.
The festival will take place from 6th to 14th of June 2025.
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Kuopio Dance Festival