Category Archives: Dance

ajankohtaista

Johanna Tuukkaselta uusi teos Twirling World

Tanssitaiteilija Johanna Tuukkasen uusi teos Twirling World starring… Miss Privilege & Miss Million-Ways nähdään Sotkulla Kuopiossa 30.11. ja 1.12.2010. Tuukkasen kanssa teoksessa esiintyy tanssi- ja live art –taiteilija Sonja Jokiniemi.
Miss Privilege & Miss Million-Ways liikkuvat maastossa, joka muuttuu kutsuvasta kysyväksi ja vinksahtaneeksi. He asettavat itsensä asetelmallisiin kohtauksiin ja samalla kyseenalaistavat, rikkovat ja muuttavat niitä. Miss Privilege & Miss Million-Ways lahjoittavat merkityt kehonsa tapahtumiin, joissa he leikittelevät kimaltelevilla stereotypioilla, itsensä esineellistämisellä ja katsotuksi tulemisella.

Lippuvaraukset: itak@itak.fi / +358 (0)40 7429091

Huippusuosittu ACTS OF CLOTHING vierailee Yksin Sateessa? –festivaalilla Joensuussa 27.11.2010

Marraskuussa 2009 kantaesitetty ACTS OF CLOTHING perustuu brittiläisen Marcia Farquharin konseptiin. Esityksessä Johanna Tuukkanen on yksin catwalkilla koko elämän läpi ulottuvan vaatekomeronsa kanssa kertomassa tarinoita vaatekappaleiden johdattelemana. Hyvinkin paljastavat ja henkilökohtaiset tarinat avaavat kuvaa tämän päivän naisesta ja kertovat häikäilemättömän suorasukaisesti noloista väärinymmärryksistä, syrjinnästä, rakastumisesta, äitiydestä, irtisanomisista, onnistumisesta, taiteilijuudesta, perheestä, täyttymättömistä pyrkimyksistä ja irtiotoista. Arjen tragikoomisuus ja Tuukkasen itseironisuus ravistelevat catwalk-tradition puhumattomuutta.

Johanna mukana Tanssivassa Joulukalenterissa Kuopiossa

Itäisen tanssin aluekeskuksen tanssiva joulukalenteri on todellinen vaihtoehto joulun aineelliselle hössötykselle. Kalenterin luukku avautuu entisen elokuvateatteri Maximin ikkunassa joka päivä tarjoten liikelahjan, joka ei saastuta, ei jää nurkkiin pyörimään ja on aina sopivan kokoinen. Ja niin kuin hyvä lahja aina, Tanssivan joulukalenterin lahjat myös yllättävät. 
Joulukalenterin on ideoinut tänä vuonna freelance tanssitaiteilija ja koomikko Johanna Keinänen yhdessä tanssitaiteilija Anniina Aunolan ja Johanna Tuukkasen kanssa. Luukut avautuvat 1.-23.12. klo 16.30 ja aattona klo 11.00. Haapaniemenkatu 23:n ja Maljalahdenkadun kulmassa Kuopiossa. Johanna Tuukkanen esiintyy joulukalenterissa kahdeksan kertaa.

Juuri kolmivuotisen taiteilija-apurahan Taiteen keskustoimikunnalta saanut Johanna Tuukkanen tunnetaan erityisesti intiimeistä, esiintyjän ja katsojan vuorovaikutukselle perustuvista teoksistaan. Tuukkanen lähestyy teostensa teemoja usein itseironian kautta ja hän on kiinnostunut tuomaan esille ajan, paikan, fyysisyyden, hetkellisyyden ja arjen käsitteitä. Maija Hirvasen mukaan ”Arjen lisäksi Johannan töissä ovat 10 vuoden ajan näyttäytyneet leikkisästi erilaiset naismyytit ja sukupuoliset todellisuudet. Hän on diiva, äiti, olento, humoristinen luomu-bitch, Niskavuoren emäntä viettelevässä versiossa.”

Nähdään esityksissä!

October 16th

At this age, birthdays are not very special events but I was delighted to get a book about Burlesque from Pekka and this lovely home made note holder from my daughter! I’m working on my upcoming performance in which I use some Burlesque imagery so the book is just perfect. I’m very happy.
Despite my birthday, I decided to bake an apple pie and the kids baked Finnish pulla, yam! I cannot recall when I last baked pulla -it’s years ago- and this was definitely the first time in this house… I also managed to go for a run so the day was not so bad after all.

Johanna

Helsinki days

Shows of Acts of Clothing in the Ateneum theatre in Helsinki went really well. It was great to experience so many people being touched and moved by the work. It was also a real pleasure to be hosted by the producer Mika Väyrynen and the technical crew which was just great. I want to thank especially Timo who run all the shows. Everything went smoothly and well.

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Mika took me to the concert of Paula Koivuniemi which took place in the Huvilateltta. It was just great! And I became a fan of Paula Koivuniemi. So much that I sent my son today in the rain back to town to buy Paula’s Rakkaudesta cd.
In Helsinki I managed to have some business meetings, see some work and some friends, too. It was a luxury to stay in Töölö which is a very nice and central part of Helsinki. At last I remembered to return my Lustwear socks which I’d bought sometime last year but which didn’t suite me at all. Hammi promised me to change them but I don’t know how many times I’ve been in Helsinki and not remembered to take the socks with me… I changed the socks into a kind of scarf since there’s no way I could afford at the moment one of their wonderful coats… In Stockmann I found the new Shock Absorber run bra on sale so now I’m also a very happy owner of a new black running bra.
The only down fall was that I caught a cold which didn’t really effect my show last night but today I woke up in the middle of the night feeling just terrible. The train journey home was a nightmare and I’ve been feeling really ill and bad all day, mostly sleeping and sipping tea. I really would like to go to work tomorrow but I don’t know if I can.

Maybe more about Helsinki in the next post and about one rather disappointing performance I saw…

Johanna

busy and sweaty summer days

The last weeks have been crazy in the ANTI office. We finally launched the 2010 programme and new website on Monday and I thought I’m able to have some holiday… it didn’t really work out as something unexpected came along and I’ve been busy sorting that out. Oh well. I still have to go to the office on Monday but after that I will be on holiday until the conference in Cesis, Latvia. That isn’t much so I really have to try hard to get my mind off work but it might be a challenge as I have to prepare for my talk in the conference… But I’m really looking forward to spending a few days in Riga and Cesis! 

It has been a bit busy at home, too.

Many passersby on their summer holiday lodging for a few nights and my daughter’s birthday party. But today was a celebration as we finished the home made table for our roof terrace. So far we haven’t had any table and I’ve been complaining about that so much and just dreamed of being able to dine outdoors. Now we finally can and already did! So nice. The table might not be 100% perfect but I love it already. I didn’t do much, only some painting…

The Toy chairs by Philippe Starck, Essence Pitcher by Iittala, design Alfredo Häberli.  p1020633.jpg p1020635.jpg

It might be that Iceland is calling again…
Essence glass, wine is my new summer favourite Lindemans Early Harvest Semillon Sauvignon blanc, MacBook Pro, Mondo travel guide. p1020639.jpg

Although it has been really hot, I’ve tried to push myself to runs regularly. The running skirt has been excellent in this kind of weather and I’ve really enjoyed my runs. Acts of Clothing shows are coming up so I’ve also been motivated. My operated knee has been better but I’m not up for really long runs with it yet. But that’s ok.

Sunglasses Jackie Ohh Ray Ban, running top Nike Fit, running skirt & shoes Asics, footpod Polar, iPod suffle.    p1020622.jpg
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So yes, my daughter turned 8 and got this gorgeous bicycle as a present from the whole family including grandparents and great grandparents… She was so happy and I’m really pleased we can cycle more together. Her bicycle is Helkama Jasmine, mine is Aino and my son’s Jopo…

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Birthday cake and muffins baked by her sisters…

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Wishing you all beautiful summer days.

Johanna

On a rollercoaster

Last weeks have been unusually emotional and tough. In the end of May and beginning of June I worked long days in the ANTI office with Kaisa and Gregg to renew and complete the festival printed brochure and website. Then on Monday the 7th of June, my partner called me and said that my father had tried to reach me many times during the day. I had forgotten to turn the phone forwarding on from my home number to my office phone and my father didn’t have my work number. I was still in the office at about 9pm when I called my dad who told me that I no longer had a sister. My little sister had died at the age of 31. Of course, everything turned upside down, I had to take some time off and we missed the outlined schedule with the brochure. I was forced to spend time with my family, my children, my mom and dad to deal with this unexpected tragedy that left all of us very very sad and full of unanswered questions.
My sister was buried in Hailuoto on the 17th of June in a small, intimate, simple ceremony. Although it was a really hard day, full of sorrow and tears, it also felt like a kind of completion and a really important ritual.
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The next morning we drove back to Kuopio and I went straight into rehearsals and prepared for my performances on Sunday and Monday. I think I performed pretty amazing shows of ACTS OF CLOTHING and Physical Artistic deeds 1; Milk. Of course, I could have canceled them but I felt it was important for me to redirect my energy and put some of the very personal emotions on stage. Both of the performances were very packed, there was more audience that we were allowed to take in and we couldn’t fit everyone in to the Milk performance. I got so much positive feedback of the shows and people praised ACTS OF CLOTHING so much that I was all humbled. In the show I talked about my sister’s funeral and many people were very moved and touched about that. Although it felt like a really hard job to pull the performances together, I’m glad I did.
We also managed to get the brochure to the print and we’ll launch the ANTI 2010 programme and website on Monday the 5th of July! Exciting.
Last week I counted my work hours of the spring and realized that I’ve worked overtime more than 235 hours! No wonder I’ve been tired. So I’m desperately waiting for my summer holiday. My family needs my attention, our home and our garden needs attention but I also need to get my mind off from work. I’m trying to organize a long weekend or a small holiday with my children and with my mom somewhere…maybe in Greece, maybe Iceland… we’ll see. But I’m also really really looking forward to performing ACTS OF CLOTHING at the Full Moon Dance Festival in the end of July and in the Ateneum theatre in Helsinki in August.

Now, I wish you all very well.

Johanna

back from NRLA and going ever since

Last week I got back from NRLA which again was a fantastic celebration of live art. I saw so many great artists and works, colleagues and friends that I’m overwhelmed just thinking about it… This year was the 30th anniversary of NRLA and maybe because of that the sense of community, support and live art family was heightened. What ever the case, it was truly magical and beautiful to be part of it all. I saw just amazing works by Kira O’Reilly, Guillermo Gomez Pena, Marcia Farquhar, Ron Athey, FrenchMottershead and Los Torreznos, and many works that were not mind blowing but important to see such as Forced Entertainment, Sheela Gelani, Kate Stannard, Francesca Steele, Silke Mansholt… to name a few. I also followed a La Pocha Nostra workshop lead by Guillermo Gomez Pena and Roberto Sifuentes at the Univerisity of Glasgow. That was just great. It was also fantastic to see Jennie Klein, Dee Heddon, Lois Keidan, Colin & Debbie, Richard DeDomenici, Ange Taggart, Manuel Vason and the ASFLA partners of course. Like always, it was all really inspiring. Check out the photograph of the NRLA crowd by FrenchMottershead here.

The only thing causing a little bit of a headache was the BA strike which cancelled my flight from Glasgow to London. In the end, I managed to change my flight and fly to London on Monday night, but had to stay overnight at Heathrow and fly to Finland the next day. This was truly exhausting. And with my knee still in recovery, I was pretty fed up dragging my luggage around Heathrow airport in the middle of the night…only to sleep a couple of hours at the airport hotel and get the shuttle bus back to the airport in the early morning hours. Anyway, I managed.

As soon as I landed in Helsinki, Risto Löf from Savon Sanomat newspaper called me and wanted to do an interview because of the prize I received from the regional arts council of North Savo. I didn’t have much time to talk then so when I finally got home I called him back and we did the interview on the phone. I think I was about 1 and half hours at home before rushing to the VB photographic centre to receive my prize. It was a small & cozy little event but at least I got to wear my golden Finsk shoes… This was the second time as I also wore them at the Tramway in Glasgow. They are so comfortable! I must say I find a bit strange the way the regional arts council organizes the prize reception. For one thing, I still haven’t actually ‘received the prize’ but the way they inform about it (or rather the lack of informing about it), invite people to the event (or rather don’t invite people) and celebrated with me was rather dull. Well, luckily Pekka, Anniina & Tatu came by later and we had some champagne.

Last week, weekend and this week have been very busy at the ANTI Festival office. I’ve spent a lot of time on the proposals, skyping with Gregg, thinking about the programme, organizing the annual association meeting etc. Luckily Kaisa started her work last week as the producer of 2010 festival. I think we’ll make a great team. There’s so much work at the moment that I’m all the time tempted to jump to work but I need to take these Easter days easy as I’ve worked the last two weekends. Yesterday I forced myself to finish my tax papers from 2009. It took me 7 hours. I’ve always hated doing the tax papers but especially now that the regional tax office of North Savo has refused to accept physical training costs as part of a freelance dance artist’s professional costs I’ve kind of lost faith in the Finnish tax system & authorities. 

Although things at the ANTI office have been exciting and interesting, I’ve been a bit concerned because I haven’t had time & energy to exercise much. It’s ok for a week or two but cannot become routine. So I’ve been catching up with exercising and it’s all gone pretty well. Last week I also returned the crutches that I had borrowed from the health care centre of Kuopio. The day before yesterday I walked 8.3km and today 8km. These are the first ‘longer’ walks I’ve done after the surgery (I know they are not that long but keeping in mind that I had a ACL surgery 7 weeks ago it’s not that bad). Probably many people don’t recognize anything strange in my walking but I know it’s far from ‘normal’. I cannot fully straighten the knee or push from the left foot they way I can from the other one and especially after a while, this shows in slight limping. The first hour of walking went on both days pretty well but after that the knee starts to feel a bit unstable and wobbly. Yesterday I went to the gym to do some strengthening exercises and also cycled on an exercise bike for 25mins and 15mins on the cross trainer. So I think the knee is definitely getting better, I just have to be patient with it. It’s great to be able to walk outside now that the ice has melted from the streets and there’s no danger of slipping and falling. But for now I can only dream of running. I was so envious of people who went by me running or jogging. I just wanted to shout ‘I also would be running hadn’t I had a knee surgery 7 weeks ago!’ Anyway, I think it’s soon time to find my bicycle from the storage and repair it for another spring-summer-autumn season of cycling.

Tomorrow I need to prepare for next week’s works as I’m involved in many things. But it’s great to be back at work, much nicer than being stuck at home with an injury.

Johanna

So, the date of my knee operation is confirmed. In less than a week it’s going to operated and I’ll finally know what kind of damage exactly happened in the third Acts of Clothing performance in November. I feel relieved but also a bit frightened. Depending what needs to be done in order to fix the knee, also determines the length of the recovering process.
The other really terrifying thing is that I have so much work to do and I don’t understand how will I be able to meet all the deadlines and complete all the mandatory work related things in just a few days before going into the surgery. Arghhh…

On Thursday I spoke in a seminar focusing on cultural management and producing cultural events In Jyväskylä. It was really inspiring and exciting and we had a very good conversation in the end. There were many students who study arts management and they were so sweet with their questions. Yesterday I also met Kaisa who will start working with me on ANTI Festival in April. I’m so much looking forward to that! I think we’ll make a good team.

Last week in Helsinki was also very very inspiring. It was simply great to be on the course focusing on international touring and look at the different requirements and aspects of it. I was also inspired by the many conversations among colleagues and it was great to sense the feeling of common concerns, aims and visions. The days were very full, besides the course I had arranged meetings with several collaborators and managed to see some work as well.
Iiris Autio, the managing director of Tero Saarinen company and Suzanne Bilodeau from Cinars:

Cinars

Whilst in Helsinki, I also quickly popped in Asuna and in Minna Parikka’s boutique with Maija. And I didn’t buy anything! The shoes I fancied didn’t fit my foot at all and in Asuna the trousers I fell in love with were soooooo expensive that I managed to stay sane and keep my credit card in the wallet. Yesterday I visited the lovely Minzi store in Jyväskylä and didn’t buy anything either. They had some great shoes (but not the right size) and inspiring 2OR+YYAT clothes but they were not really my style. I wish they’ve had the new collection of Finsk shoes but they hadn’t arrived as yet… And that was probably very good as I won’t be able to wear super high heels for a while after the knee operation.

Johanna

the days in Helsinki

On Thursday & Friday I was working in Helsinki and had meetings with different people and institutions. I think it was really useful and also inspiring.
This week I got the first versions of documentation dvds from Acts of Clothing and BODY/HAIR performances. Both look good but I should find time & energy to work on the subtitles. It’s a job I would happily give to someone else. I also don’t know what to do with the full documentation of the Acts of Clothing as it is almost non-stop talking for almost an hour and half…
But during my short visit to Helsinki, I had a chance to visit some of my favourite restaurants and design shops as well as the Christmas market in Vanha where I found a very nice present for my son. I finally saw the new Lustwear shop on Bulevardi. It was great to meet Hammi, one of the designers & owners, as she was in the shop when I visited. They had a few just amazing coats which I didn’t even want to try as I seriously can’t buy anything like that at the moment. And if I try something just perfect on, there’s a chance that I lose the battle with myself and take out the credit card… So I bought just a little Christmas present for myself. The next day I run into Hammi and Maikku, the other designer & owner, in Stockman and we had a nice chat. I haven’t seen those ladies for some time now. It was great to see them and items from their new collection. I highly recommend.
I didn’t visit Minna Parikka’s shop or Asuna, but I quickly went into Helsinki10. I was happy to find products of No Bad Design in there as well as jewellery made out of old toys (I cannot remember the designer). I had almost forgotten that I have a No Bad Design bracelet! And my daughter has fallen in love with the toy jewellery so I have bought a piece for her for Christmas. The Ethic shop is Kuopio sells them. Before taking my train back home, I visited the Mac Store where I bought I few items I needed for my new Mac Book Pro and also decided to visit the Nanso shop. They had some nice example single pieces in very good price and I ended up buying a black & red Love Cats top and a dress  … But they were very cheap! 

On Friday I had a nostalgic latte in Café Entré in Kruunuhaka. So many times I’ve sat there before going to the ministry of education or the arts council of Finland. Then I had a lovely lunch in Mai Thai and bought take away sushi for the train journey back home. The train trip was really strange as opposite of me sat the most hysterical or ADHD woman that I’ve ever seen. For the whole four hours, she packed and unpacked, sat and stood up to search through her 8 or so bags, she constantly also changed her place to sit and had everything, literally everything packed in plastic bags including her lip balm! She was all hot and red on the face from all the hassle she just couldn’t stop. She seemed very nice and friendly but she was so restless that I would go crazy if I had to spend a day with a person like that. Tomorrow is hopefully my last day of working in the ANTI office this year. I’m really looking forward to that!

Johanna