Bio
Riikka Theresa Innanen is Finnish artist working as choreographer, dancer and visual artist
Her work has been exhibited in North America, Europe and West Africa additional to Finland. She has been the featured choreographer of Tanssin Virtaa dance festival in 2014 and received several grants, including the artist bursary from Svenska Kulturfonden in 2011-12; and received paid residences such as in 1 year in Daghdha Dance Company in Ireland. In May 2016, a documentary film was broadcasted on YLE (Finnish Public Broadcast Company) directed by Barbro Björkfelt. Currently she is focusing on a collective processes and social activism refugees.
Since graduating from School for New Dance Development (SNDO), Theatre faculty of Amsterdam School of the Arts in Holland in 1997 she has been also curating events such as Side Step festival and taught dance, composition and camera work, most extensively in Amsterdam School of the Arts 1997-2004.
On-line: Personal web page Blogs on Tumblr: Dancing The World (umbrella page)
Specific blogs: Dance Ecology ,Tree of Happiness and Writing on Waves
Facebook: WORKS: Happiness and more and videos on Vimeo
Education
2015- Aalto University, Minor Studies in Redesign of Society
2014- Aalto University, MA Major studies in Visual Culture and Contemporary Arts
1993-1997 BA School for New Dance Development, Amsterdam Hoogeschool voor de Kunsten
Current
2016-2017 Research assistant. Out2-project, Aalto / Venice Biennale, Research Pavilion.
16.6-18.12.2017 Matkalla Onneen touring group exhibition (Fin-Holland). Tree of Happiness.
May 2017 Lapsody festival, Helsinki.
Feb 2017- Artistic interventions & contributions to support Stop Deportations demonstration by asylum seekers at Helsinki Railway Square.
Jan-Feb 2017 Collaborative group exhibition Exquisite Corps , Kallio Kunsthalle, Helsinki
Dec 2016 Revolutionary conversations event with Ramy Essam (Egypt) & Elham Rahmati (Iran)
2015 Why Does My Sister Not Like Contemporary Art. Duet with and by Liisa Pentti at STOA, Helsinki on Postmodern dance in Finland -festival
June/Sept Co-researcher on Joachim Hug doctoral reserach project, Helsinki Theatre School, Finland
May-June Reclaiming Utopia event. Group exhibition of final works for Redesign of society- studies: Future History and "How to Cook up Utopias"
May 2016 Documentary "Why Art in society?" (Vad är konsten bra för?) Production YLE. Dir. Barbro Bjorkfeldt
April 2016 Vituttaako? -installation and Grab-installations at Arabia Campus and Marian Ilmestys-festival
March 2016 Ballast #1: Earth Installation exhibition at Beta Gallery, Aalto Campus Otaniemi
April 2015 WMSDNLCA – duet with Liisa Pentti at Zodiak - Centre for New Dance
2014
May 2014 Festival choreographer for 2014 Tanssivirtaa-festival, Tampere,
May 2014 Tree of Happiness, Tanssin Virtaa-festival, Tampere
21-22.3.2014 Rondo - (Praxes itinérantes - II osa) duet with Akseli Aittoniemi at Höyhentämö - Pluckhouse, Helsinki
25.2 -2.3.2014 Uni - the Duet Redux. Duet remake from 1997 with Giorgio Convertito at Höyhentämö - Pluckhouse, Helsinki
2013
July 2013 The Tree of Happiness. A Social choreographic installation, Full Moon Dance Festival, Finland
August 2013 Wilderness residency with HELLO/EARTH, Kedja Residence program
Spring 2013 Minä ja Dhaanto. Cultural arts project for Somali youth in Espoo, Finland (with EJY and Helinä Rautavaara Museum)
Summer 2013 Luíss ( research period in Vienna, Performance, Raum_4, Vienna)
Nov. 2013 Tartu Käteen benefit concert for Benin. Volonteering as an organizer (stage managing) at in Kulttuurikeskus Gloria, Helsinki
Sept, 2013 Pa-f residency and working with DasArts & Social Dreaming
Nov 2012- Jan 2013 Artist Residency at Villa Karo, Benin, West Africa.
Several Projects incl. Les Animeux e Plastic workshop for children with storytelling, drawing, rapping and dance
2012
Les Animeux e plastic.
Choreography and co-ordination of an art project with children in Grand Popo, Benin , West Africa. Exhibition and performance Villa Karo Stage.
reANIMAted
solo dance and choreography on ecology at Kiasma, part of Performance Compost event.
In Total Darkness
Choreography and dance. Work created in collaboration with sound artis Marko Timlin
I Think Not
solo adaptation and dance of Deborah Hays choreography
Skin(s) Cradle.
Solo dance choreography for Isabella Oberländer premiere in Dance House Ireland Jan ‘12
The Nothing Fields
Dancer in a choreography concept from Michael Klien, curated by Giorgio Convertito
The Tree of Happiness (together with solo dance I Think Not)
Social choreographic installation, Stoff festival Stockholm 23-27.8.2012
2011
Dromos
Dancer in a choreography from Soile Lahdenperä. Performed at Tennispalatsi Museum’s South Africa exhibition
Luíss (film and performance) In collaboration with improvisation group Luíss
NUMBER Helsinki Adaptation
A group work using counting and algorithms. Dramaturgical assistant mathematician Alexis Clancy, at Zodiak Center for New Dance
Volunteer work for Dalai Lama visit to Helsinki with Finnish Tibetan Cultural Association.
Stage managing at Barona Areena, Directing, filming co-ordinating and editing of Video documentation.
2010
ANIMA
Commissioned solo work on ecology for dancer Outi Yli-Viikari. Telakka Theatre, Tampere
Unelmien Suvela, Village Feast and The Tree of Happiness
Social choreographic project and installation at Suvela People’s Park. In collaboration with Recycling Center or Helsinki and Helinä Rautavaara Museum
Tunnel of the Eye
Finnish-Greek-Danish co-production mixing dance and music. Double premiere: KokoTeatteri, Helsinki 23.2.2010, Balltoppen, Copenhagen 3.5.2010
Domus en Corpore
Group piece for 1st year students using improvisation of Outokumpu Dance Education.
2009
NUMBER
A group work using counting and algorithms. Dramaturgical assistant mathematician Alexis Clancy, Daghdha Dance Co, Ireland.
Sessions of a Seismograph,
Solo dance and exhibition of drawings by Innanen, Bedford Row Centre, Limerick Ireland.
A Walk in A Forest,
Duet with Innanen and Giorgio Convertito, Daghdha Dance Co, Ireland
A Hero Nearing the End of an Illusion
Solo dance with Innanen, Daghdha Dance Co, Ireland
2008
While Rigding the Path, I looked up; a Bird.
Group work for 5 dancers at Zodiak Center for New Dance, Helsinki
On-line Video Tutorial for Dance. Finnish Dancer Information Centre.
Raadelma Music Video for Raadelma music group. Awarded with a Baltic Herring for short films at Blue Sea film Festival. Dance Vera Nevanlinna and Michael Stoeckel
Borta Bram men Hemma Bäst.
Performance Art duet with Barbro Björkfelt
2007
Chamber Opera Kaappi (The Closet)
Dancer in an Opera by Seppo Pohjolan directed by Jaakko Nousiainen and Miika Hyytiäinen. Production: Seppo Pohjola, Turku Music festival, Helsinki Festival
The Fly Lake
Filming, Editing and Directing of a Dance Video, Dance Vera Nevanlinna. Production Finnish Dance Info Centre.
Illuusia –one minute domestic wonder
Filming, Editing and Directing of a Dance Video, Dance Vera Nevanlinna. Production Finnish Dance Info Centre.
Olotila
Performer and co-creator with Anna Jussilainen, Tuomas Laitinen and Julius Elo. Research Center for Reality.
2006
Passato,
Solo with dance, 8mm film, and a Dictaphone sound score by Innanen Zodiak Center For New Dance, Time for Dance festival, Jyväskylä, Body Navigation Festival, St.Petersburg.
Myrskyn ja myötätuulen terraario
Dancer in a choreography from Soile Lahdenperä. Zodiak – Center for New Dance.
Asunnottomat
group work based on homelessness
Happiness
Beginning of an on-going project on happiness after 2week residency at the Songzen Tibetan Library, Dehra Dun India studying Unity in Duality.
Volunteer work for Dalai Lama visit to Helsinki with Finnish Tibetan Cultural Association.
2005
Bodies Are No Good
Dancer with Oblivia group. Directed by Annika Tudeer and Anna Krzystek. Dance Theatre Hurjaruuth, Helsinki, Lawless festival Pori.
"NYT –Hetken koreografiaa"
Dancer in a choreography from Soile Lahdenperä. Tennispalatsi Museum of Modern Art
Uni-versio 3,
Trio choreography and dance videos and Ketcup, Art Hall Museum, Helsinki, Finland
Peloton –improvisation
Art Hall Museum, Helsinki, Finland (with free jazz orchestra Peloton and improvisation group RIO-Real Time Orchestra)
Scatola Magica
Dance Video adaptation of live performance. Dance Marisa Grande and Giorgio Convertito
2004
Dance for Camera research Lab
Grant for 1 year Dance and Camera Research Project at Zodiak – Center for New Dance Seminars, Festivals, Video programs
Camp numero 5
Dancer in a choreography from Arja Tiili. Helsinki Festival & Zodiak Center for New Dance, Helsinki.
Ballet Automécanique
Creation of a dance video in a car. With Giorgio Convertito, Maria Langenegger, Carlos Pez
Välitön Tila
Dancer in a choreography from Soile Lahdenperä. Meilahti Museum for Contemporary Art, Helsinki.
viRIO
improvisation group RIO – Real Time Orchestra dancing with short films from AV-Arkki (contemporary film archive), Zodiak Center for New Dance, Helsinki
2003
Scatola Magica
Live installation performance with video and improvised dance.Collaboration with dancers Marisa Grande and Giorgio Convertito. Theater
Gasthuis, Amsterdam. Kiasma Museum/Rotation festival, Hki.
2002
ANANAS
Choreography and dance. A work "for a dancer in flipflops, pineapple and a TV cook". Dance Theater Hurjaruuth, Hki
1997-2003
Teacher and program leader of Dance and Camera at Amsterdam School of the Arts (AHK) theatre faculty. Tech. Dienst/ Beeldmedia
1999
Rat’s Head Ox’s Neck
Dancer and co-founder of Q-group. Choreography Eileen Standley (USA/NL).
Lucid.
Dancer in a choreography by Katharina Pöhlmann. Danswekplaats, Amsterdam
1997
Migrations
Dancer in a choreography by Cathy Caraker (USA). AHK Amsterdam
Riptide,
Dancer in a choreography by Eileen Standley (USA/NL). AHK Amsterdam.
Valli della Luna,
Dancer in Alyatdanza, Italia. Choreography Alya Rojas. Tour in Italy
Immediate S(urr)oundings,
Dancer in a choreography by Donald Flemming (USA/NL) Amsterdam
Distance d’Ombra
Dancer in a choreography by Marcella Fanzaga (ITA). Amsterdam
Residencies
2012 Residency at Villa Karo, Benin, Africa.
2010 Artist in Residence Outokumpu, Finland, 1 moth
2008-2009 Artist Residency (DMP) Daghdha Dance Company, Limerick, Ireland. 1 year.
Working in Organisations as curator
2001-2009 Side Step –festival Member of the Artistic Board Biannual International New Dance Festival in Zodiak New Dance Center, Helsinki
2006-2007 Videografiat. Assisting curator with Outin Yli-Viikari.
2002-2006 Z-open Co-Organizer of open forum for dance based experiments with Liisa Risu and Liisa Pentti
2003 Rotation -festival, Co-Curator. Kiasma Theater and Museum with Sari Antiainen and Virve Sutinen
Curated programs
2006-2007
Behind the Lens 1 (Linssin Takaa 2006) and Behind the Lens 2 (Linssin Takaa 2007)
Collection of Finnish Dance films for Zodiak - Center for New Dance including films from AV-Arkki.
Shown in Helsinki, Finland, Germany and Paris at 100% Finland -festival
One Minute Wonders, Collection Of Experimental Films and other Selections of Student Works
Kevätkumpu festivaali, Kino Marita, Outokumpu
Videografiat 06
Dance films curated with Outi Yli-Viikari, Hällä Theatre in Tampere
Seminar Discussions, Labs and lecture
2011
Lecture and paper “Ecology of Creativity and Evolution of Choreography"
At 7th Intelligent systems Conference at Nottingham University
Lecture "Ecology of Creativity and Evolution of Choreography"
Seminar Algorithmic Reflections of Choreography From Choreography to Software and Back, BADco. Zagreb
2007
Seminar organizer and speaker Videografiat 07
Seminar organizer and speaker Behind the Lens Seminar
2005
“Mixed Media Lab” Lab with Stephanie Thiersch, Rotation 05-festival for dance and video
1997
“in Motion”, Dance & technology-laboratory on Motion Capture technology, Rotterdam dance-festival
Articles
2010 Päivi Röppönen: Anima – kehollinen ajatelma ekologiasta Review on liikekieli.com
2008 Risto Santavuori: Katsoja kokemus While Riding the Path, I looked up; a Bird
Essay on a watchers experience of While Riding the Path, I looked up; a Bird -performance
Kirsi Monni While Riding the Path, I looked up; a Bird. Choreographer Interview for Zodiak – Center for New Dance season program.
Own writings
2010-11 Research plan and investigation on: “The ecology of creativity and evolution of metaphor: Practical Applications of Experiments in choreographic Strategies.”
2007 Liisa Risu Choreographer Interview for Zodiak – Center for New Dance season program.
Grants and Awards
2012 Svenska Kulturfonden: Skin(s) Cradle production grant
2011 Svenska Kulturfonden: 1 year Artists bursary
Helsinki City: NUMBER, grant for production
Svenska Kulturfonden Travel fund for Residency in Berlin
2010 Svenska Kulturfonden: Number, Grant for production
Svenska Kulturfonden: Tunnel of the Eye, Grant for production
Helsinki City: Tunnel of the Eye, Grant for production
2009 Finnish Central Commission for Art: Residence Grant
2008 Helsinki City: While Riding the Path, I looked up; a Bird, Grant for production
Blue Sea Festival, Baltic Herring Short Film Award for Music Video Raadelma
2007 Samuel Hubein Arts Foundation: Passato, Grant for production Svenska Kulturfonden: Passato, Grant for travelling
2006 Svenska Kulturfonden: Passato Grant production
2004 Svenska Kulturfonden: Grant for studies abroad
2003 Amterdams Fonds voor de Kunst: Scatola Magica, research grant
1997 Amsterdam Hoogeschool voor de Kunst/ Practigum Generale, Award.
