Ballet Finland’s performances sell like a carbon monoxide, but it is not enough for the continuity of action

A blue -hoodie man stands in the dance position in the middle of Helsinki. — If necessary, Jouka Valkama jumps from the ballet leader, even as a photographer or dancer.

While dancing at the National Ballet, Jouka Valkama saw how the dance group should not be managed. Now he leads Ballet Finland, whose shows are sold out like rock concerts.

Ballet Finland has a special problem. Tickets for presentations are sold out in an instant, but for financial reasons, a new work cannot be done every year.

Red -dress women dance on the stage. — Ballet Finland’s 15th anniversary celebration was celebrated in the autumn of 2024 in the evening of three choreographers in the National Opera Alminsal. Pictured is Johanna Nuutinen’s choreography ever.

Ballet Finland Ballet is a tool that can be used for many things

Ballet Finland is the only free field dance group called Ballet. The free field means that Ballet Finland – like many other professional dance groups – has to obtain external funding for each of its productions. There are also no regular dancers, but they are selected on a work basis.

– Ballet is reflected in Ballet Finland in the fact that the group maintains the opportunity to make a classic ballet, with the top slippers, says Valkama.

The top slippers also dance on a horse cruise, as most of the Ballet Finland dancers have a classical ballet training. However, choreographies are more contemporary dance or contemporary ballet, says Valkama.

In the background, playing a heavy band and in the foreground are dancers fallen to the ground. — One of the principles of Ballet Finland is that it wants to pay the dancers a decent salary. – It may sound strange that it has to be mentioned separately, but there is still too much work on the field of dance and volunteering, says Valkama. Picture of Plague of Butterflies.

– Ballet is a tool for us to build anything in principle.

Jouka Valkama wants to make it safe for dancers to say their opinion

Jouka Valkama retired from the National Ballet in 2021.

He thinks that dancers should have dared to talk about nasty things in time with their real names. This did not happen because the dancers lacked psychological safety, says Valkama.

A dark man leans on the railing, in the foreground with hands. — There will often be English in Valkama because he is so dark. After repeatedly encountering questions about his own background, he did a DNA test. It said he was almost 100% Finn. – It was a bit boring, says Valkama.

– Talking about the wrong things risked a job. I myself have been in a situation where the ballet manager said it was difficult for him to give me good dance assignments because he feels that I am a difficult person in the negotiations.

– When I retired, I wanted to continue dancing on the free field. I led Ballet Finland for a couple of years with my dancer work. Because I get a pension at the age of 44, it is my reward for this job I do pro bono for free.

Ballet threshold in lowering

When Valkama has been the leader of the dance group for five years now, does he better understand the ballet leadership of his own dancer?

– In fact, I understand it worse. It is quite possible to do things differently and still get a good outcome. Giving artists more responsibility, feeding their arts and stopping competing with other ballet groups. Then the group is genuinely created by its own profile.

What is the profile of Ballet Finland? How can one come about if there is no persistence?

– We want to offer quality and surprise, says Valkama.

A man in a blue hoodie dances outside in a snowy yard. — – Dancers are not performers or athletes but artists. Artistic is measured by how touching the dance works are. Nowadays, success in ballet is often assessed on a performance -based, technical lens, says Valkama.

One of the reasons for Ballet Finland’s popularity is how it combines familiar themes with new steps. Such was the group’s dance work *one pond swans *(2022), which was performed at the same time as the National Ballet celebrated its centenary with traditional *Joutsenlampi *ballet.

It is also possible to read the group’s merit that it has lowered the audience’s threshold to come to see ballet by offering new works and cheaper tickets. Ballet Finland does not compete with the National Ballet but cooperates with it. National Ballet dancers and choreographers have been involved in Ballet Finland’s productions.

It is even harder for the basic work of art to get scholarships

When Ballet Finland’s performances sell, why can’t it produce a new presentation even every year? Valkama opens up the situation.

– Now is January, and we do not yet know what will be a state grant for 2025. In addition, our basic funding will be cut.

In 2024, the state grant to Ballet Finland was EUR 40,000, or a mid -price passenger car. The City of Helsinki’s support for the group was € 15,000. The Ballet Finland celebration alone in the National Ballet’s Alminsal, which included three works and ten dancers cost just under € 150,000. The national ballet did not inherit the rent from the venue.

A man in a blue hoodie jumps into the air over the snow. — – I’m trying to avoid doing too much choreographies myself, but on the other hand, I’m cheap! says Valkama.

– Ticket revenue will help but do not cover our operations. We are very much dependent on individual scholarships.

As the grant vessels currently have a record number of artists, it also has consequences, says Valkama.

– Everyone is trying to stand out from each other with strange cross -art projects. For basic work, such as wanting to do a dance work, it is even harder to get money. This is a self -feeding development. As the grant grant award is changed, projects will be invented above. Artistic interests may remain secondary.