ABOUT US + CONTACT INFO

FREEcollective/ VAPAAkollektiivi is a contemporary dance collective based in Kangasniemi, Jyväskylä, Tampere, Helsinki and Espoo. It works both locally and internationally and is lead by dance artists Maija Tuomi, Maria Kananen, Sini Repo, Outi Yli-Viikari and Terhi Kuokkanen.

The collective operates by inviting guest choreographers and guest artists to co-create for stage and public spaces. FREEcollective has its aim in strengthening the contemporary dance scene especially in Central Finland. Its work evolves around production of new works, hosting workshops, holding showings, artist talks, publishing blogs and innovation of new forms of collaboration in order to bring dance to audiences and to create unique contemporary works. 

The collective collaborates with other artist groups, art practitioners, cultural institutions and brings dance to rural areas in Central Finland. Since 2011 the collective also offers dancers apprenticeships in its productions.

CONTACT: vapaakollektiivi(at)gmail.com


















VAPAAkollektiivi ry. association was set up in 2014.


During the years FREEcollective has collaborated with artists: 
Guest chor. Disa Krosness SWE, Parts of Life 2017
Guest chor. Anniina Kumpuniemi FIN, Ten site-specific choreographies - A city for people (Ihmisten kaupunki) 2015 
Reetta Kaisa Iles, Anne-Mari Kivimäki, Petra Käppi, Antero Mentu, Henna Leisiö, Joonas Keskinen (Tampere, FIN) The Art Bus project.
Guest chor. Rosalind Crisp Australia/Paris: Choreographic improvisation ws, 2013 & 2014 in Tampere.
Guest chor. Soile Lahdenperä FIN: improvisation piece Chameleons (Kameleontit) 2014, tour in 2015
Guest chor. Janina Rajakangas UK/FIN: Wonderful and Fine (Ihana ja hieno), black box piece, tour in 2012.
Guest chor. Johanna Keinänen FINMULTIPURPOSE OBJECTIONS streetperformance 2012, tour  in 2014. 
Guest chor. Laura Pietiläinen FIN: Light and Darkness (Valoa ja Pimeää) Site-specific work in 2012. 
Guest chor. Petri Kekoni FIN: Sense of Space (Tilan Taju), black box piece in 2010.
Guest Dancers: Rea-Liina Brunou, Janita Rantanen, Sonja Pälli, Maria Nurmela, Heidi Miikki, and Malwiina Heikkilä.
Costume designers: Maria Hämäläinen, Susanna Suurla 
Guest musicians: Jaakko PimperiOuti PulkkinenAnne-Mari Kivimäki FIN
Composer: Úlfur Eldjárn ICE
Soud designer: Jouni Tauriainen FIN 
Light designers: Tero Koivisto, Jenni Pystynen, Joonas Tikkanen FIN
Visual- and set designer: Veera-Maija Murtola FIN 
Film makers: Hanna Lappalainen, Merja Isokoski FIN 

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The collective´s partners so far have been: Kanneltalo Eastern Helsinki Cultural Center, Reykjavik Dance Atelier, Dance Theatre MD, Puhti Duo, Culture Cooperative Uulu, the Finnish Regional Dance Centers Network, Central and Western Finland Regional Dance Centers and Tampere City.  In 2015 A City for People got selected as the Central and Western Dance Centers co-production and was created and performed both in Turku and Tampere. In 2012 Wonderful and Fine was chosen as the first co-production of the Finnish Regional Dance Centers Network and toured in all Regional Dance Centers during the year 2012. In 2012 FREEcollective kickstarted a collaboration with theatre research students of the University of Tampere.

FREEcollective has been funded by: Kulturkontakt Nord, The Western and Central Finland Dance Centers co-production 2015, Network of Regional Centers for Dance co-production 2012, Arts Council of Finland, Central Finland Regional Dance Center, Arts Council of Pirkanmaa, Finnish Cultural Foundation The Pirkanmaa Regional Fund and The City of Tampere.


FIN/ tiivis esittely suomeksi 
VAPAAkollektiivin muodostavat tanssitaiteilijat Maija Tuomi, Maria Kananen, Terhi Kuokkanen, Sini Repo ja Outi Yli-Viikari. Keskeinen toimintamuoto on vierailevien taiteilijoiden kutsuminen yhteistyöhön toteuttamaan erityyppisiä teoksia. Toiminnan keskiössä on nykytanssiesitysten valmistaminen näyttämölle ja julkisiin tiloihin, kiertuetoiminta ja tanssin yleisötyö. VAPAAkollektiivi työskentelee ja esiintyy kansainvälisesti ja erityisen tärkeää sille on laaja-alainen työ nykytanssin parissa kollektiivin jäsenten kotiseuduilla.