Kuopio Dance Festival to begin soon – major international company headlines the main programme with four performances
Cover photo: Tilo Stengel
Kuopio Dance Festival will begin in a few days, on Monday 8th of June.
This year’s main guest company is GöteborgsOperans Danskompani, one of Europe’s most foremost contemporary dance companies. The ensemble is a large international group of 38 dancers.
The company will bring works by four leading choreographers to Kuopio: Sharon Eyal, Hofesh Shechter, Botis Seva, and Marcos Morau. The visit is particularly significant as the newest works by Seva and Morau had their world premieres only in early 2026.
– GöteborgsOperans Danskompani is considered one of the five best contemporary dance companies in the world. It is exceptional to bring such a high-level and diverse programme to Kuopio – even at the company’s home stage in Gothenburg, audiences cannot see a programme of this scale and breadth, says Artistic Director Kenneth Kvarnström.
Sharon Eyal, one of today’s most sought-after international choreographers, brings the powerful and intense work ima to Kuopio, described as her most personal work to date. Hofesh Shechter, who rose from a choreography competition in Kuopio to the top of the international scene, presents the energetic and colourful Wild Poetry. Botis Seva’s work We Made a Mess! is inspired by the British school system, while Marcos Morau’s Cold Song takes the audience into a world of absurd humour and theatrical magic.
The festival’s traditional Gala once again raises the atmosphere to its peak. The Gala features several short works by leading Finnish contemporary dance artists and internationally acclaimed choreographers. Performers include Mateo Mirdita’s ensemble, Raekallio Corp., Tero Saarinen Company, Ballet Finland, Atte Kilpinen, and other key names in Finnish contemporary dance. On Friday 12 June, the Gala will also present the Young Dance Artist of the Year award.
The main programme concludes on Sunday with a joint performance by the Ballet School of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet and the festival’s Dance Camps, featuring numerous short pieces.
Festival living room: Circus Live
Alongside the main programme, the festival offers a wide range of free entry events across the city. During the week, Kuopio will be filled with dance through daily performances on the Savonia stage, the Dance Schools On Stage showcase, and a Carnival Parade that brings colour and a Southern European carnival atmosphere to the city streets. In addition, audiences can meet the dancers of GöteborgsOperans Danskompani and the Gala performers at Meet & Greet events.
The festival week will also feature wellness mornings, seminars, evening clubs, the Dance Challenge charity event, a joint singing and dance event, and activities for children such as Enchanted Forest Dance Jams.
Overall, Kuopio Dance Festival offers around one hundred events during the week.
