People

Riku Lehtopolku

Riku Lehtopolku is a versatile dance artist active across the dance field. He has worked as a dancer and choreographer with Pori Dance Company since 2001, creating 15 works for the group, the most recent being Luutarhan laituri, which premiered in November. In addition, Riku’s works have been featured in the repertoires of Oulu City Theatre, Blind Gut Company, and numerous festivals. Alongside Pori Dance Company, Riku has performed with the Finnish National Ballet, Skånes Dansteater, Iceland Dance Company, as well as in productions by Carl Knif Company and Susanna Leinonen Company. Since 2006, Riku has served as choreographic assistant to Jorma Uotinen and rehearsal director for his works at institutions such as the Finnish National Ballet and the Royal Danish Ballet. As an artistic director, Riku has worked with Pori Dance Company (2014–2019), the Kuopio Dance Festival (2020–2024), and, since spring 2025, with Aurinkobaletti in Turku.

Meri Tankka

Meri Tankka is a dancer from Pori who graduated from Tampere Conservatory in 2005 and has since continued her education with, among other things, specialized studies in ballet pedagogy at the Theatre Academy’s Department of Dance and dance teacher studies at Savonia University of Applied Sciences. Meri has worked with Pori Dance Company since 2000 and has danced in nearly all of the group’s productions ever since. She has performed with the company in South Korea, Germany, Sweden, France, the United States, and Scotland. Meri has received numerous awards and honorary mentions at industry events, including winning the Concours Euro-Dance Paris competition. In addition to her artistic work, Tankka has long been active as a dance teacher in Pori. Today, she is co-owner and principal of Tanssikoulu Tankka.

Riikka Tankka

Riikka Tankka is a dancer and dance teacher from Pori who completed her professional dancer’s qualification at Tampere Conservatory. She has worked as a teacher since 1999 and as a contracted dancer with Pori Dance Company since 2000. Riikka is one of the company’s key members and, throughout her career, has performed in works by renowned choreographers such as Tero Saarinen, Jorma Uotinen, Marjo Kuusela, Carl Knif, Pattie Obey, Frank Chaves, and Riku Lehtopolku. She has taken part in numerous tours across Europe, Asia, and the United States and has successfully competed in many dance competitions both in Finland and internationally. Riikka Tankka is the CEO and co-owner of Tanssikoulu Tankka, where she also teaches.

Kati Aalto

Kati Aalto is a dancer and dance teacher from Pori. A graduate of Tanssikoulu Liisa Nojonen, Kati has studied dance both in Finland and abroad, including under the Tampere Conservatory, at Dance Center of Columbia in Chicago, and at Pineapple and The Place studios in London. She has danced with Pori Dance Company since its founding and has performed in works by many prominent choreographers. With the company, she has toured extensively across Europe and Asia. In addition to her work with Pori Dance Company, Kati has danced with Lynda Martha Company in Chicago, appeared in productions at Pori Theatre, and participated in collaborative projects with Rakastajat Theatre and Pori Sinfonietta. In 2022, Kati was awarded the Satakunta Art Prize in recognition of her long-standing and distinguished contribution to dance as a performing artist and educator.

Toni Randell

Toni Randell is a performance technology professional who has worked on numerous productions and events both in Finland and abroad. He has been involved in Pori Dance Company’s productions for over ten years, serving as sound designer for works such as S T R E A M and Bonding, and as lighting designer for pieces including Romukylän kuolleisjuhlat and Tänä iltana.

Oskari Kymäläinen

Oskari Kymäläinen graduated as a dancer from the Ballet School of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet in 2019. Since then, he has worked as a dancer with Tero Saarinen Company, performing in several of Tero Saarinen’s works and most recently in Heart Drive by Imre and Marne Van Opstal. Oskari has appeared as a guest dancer with Pori Dance Company multiple times since 2019, performing in Riku Lehtopolku’s works such as Romukylän kuolleisjuhlat (2019) and Tänä iltana (2021). In addition to his work as a dancer, Oskari has also worked as a choreographer, with his creations presented at venues including the Amos Rex museum.

Fiia Lamminen

Fiia Lamminen is a young dancer originally from Ulvila, who graduated as a dancer with a vocational qualification from Tampere Conservatory in autumn 2025. Fiia has achieved success in numerous competitions both in Finland and internationally, earning first prizes at events such as the Grand Dance Festival in Moscow (2019) and the Italian Dance Grand Prix (2023). Most recently, she was a finalist in the international Solo Dance Contest at the Gdański Festiwal Tańca in Gdańsk during autumn 2025. Fiia has danced with Pori Dance Company since 2023 and has appeared in five of the group’s productions. With the company, she has performed at the Kuopio Dance Festival and the Battery Dance Festival in New York.

Kasperi Kolehmainen

Kasperi Kolehmainen graduated as a dancer from the Ballet School of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet in spring 2022. He currently works as a dancer with Susanna Leinonen Company, Pori Dance Company, and the dance theatre Glims & Gloms. In addition, Kolehmainen has worked with choreographers such as Jorma Uotinen, Reija Wäre, and Carl Knif, and has appeared in music videos, television productions, and other commercial projects. For several years, he has also worked as a choreographer in numerous dance schools, creating works for dance students and enthusiasts of various ages. The Nutcracker is Kasperi’s third piece with Pori Dance Company.

Tuukka King-Piitulainen

Tuukka King-Piitulainen is a First Soloist with the Finnish National Ballet. He began his dance studies at the Ballet School of the Finnish National Opera and completed his professional training at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. Tuukka has performed numerous principal and soloist roles in various ballets, including the title roles in Spartacus and Sibelius, as well as Escamillo in Liam Scarlett’s Carmen and Edward Hyde in Garrett Keast’s Jekyll & Hyde. In addition, Tuukka has appeared in works by several prominent contemporary choreographers, such as Jiří Kylián, Alexander Ekman, Carolyn Carlson, and Jorma Uotinen. Beyond the Finnish National Ballet, he has also performed in Fern Orchestra’s piece Compressed time. With Pori Dance Company, Tuukka has previously danced in Riku Lehtopolku’s works Tänä iltana and Songs.

Eero Auvinen

Eero Auvinen is a sound designer originally from Turku, now based in Helsinki. He currently works as a resident sound designer at the Finnish National Opera and Ballet. Previously, Eero has worked as a sound designer and composer in the performing arts field across Finland, most recently at Turku City Theatre, Aurinkobaletti, and in several productions by Pori Dance Company. Eero also works independently as a sound artist and musician.

Cayan Atalmis

Cayan Atalmis is a dancer originally from Pori, now based in Helsinki. He began dancing in street styles, which gradually led to an interest in ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance. After dance studies at Tanssikoulu Tankka, he continued professional training at the Arts Academy in Turku.
He was one of the finalists in Talent Finland in 2021. He has worked as a dancer in several television productions and with choreographer Reija Wäre, most recently in the Finnish National Opera’s production CircOpera 2.0.
With Pori Dance Company, he has performed in Riku Lehtopolku’s piece Songs. During the 2023–2024 academic year, he studied dance in Austria at SEAD – Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance.

Sanni Giordani

Sanni Giordani is a Helsinki-based dance artist who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts in 2014 and earned her Master of Arts degree from Aalto University in 2022. She has worked with the dance company Kinetic Orchestra since 2016 and is currently a resident dancer with the group. Previously, Sanni has also performed with Susanna Leinonen Company and in works by Mia Jaatinen, Iiro Näkki, Jenni Kivelä, and Tuomo Railo. Her most recent choreographies include Everything in its right place, created for Vantaa Dance Institute’s training theatre, and Mostly Mass for Kinetic Orchestra, which was presented at events such as the Kuopio Dance Festival. Sanni also teaches contemporary dance, partnering, and ballet in courses organized by Kinetic Orchestra, at SEAD – Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance in Austria, at Laajasalo Folk High School’s dance program, and at the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts. As an artist, Sanni is drawn to constructing spaces and atmospheres, dark humor, and the resonance created by bodies moving together.

Suvi Nieminen

Suvi Nieminen is a dance artist based in Turku. She works broadly across the dance field, having gained experience on both Finnish and international stages. In 2014, she co-founded the MP Collective in Turku together with dance artist Ilona Salonen. In addition, she has been a dancer with the Helsinki-based company Kinetic Orchestra since 2017. In 2019, Nieminen was selected as the “Kiertoliike Artist” by the Regional Dance Centre of Western Finland and represented dance artists from Southwest Finland at the national Kiertoliike networking event organized by the Dance Centre Network. In autumn 2022, she began working as a freelance dancer with the contemporary dance group Susanna Leinonen Company. Nieminen graduated as a dance teacher from Turku Arts Academy in 2013 and actively works with contemporary dance floor technique and partnering.

Olli Lautiola

Olli Lautiola is a freelance dance artist, sound designer, and dance teacher primarily based in Helsinki. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Dance from Stockholm University of the Arts in 2017 and has since worked extensively in the contemporary dance field, performing and creating sound design for works by various companies and choreographers. Olli has appeared in productions by Dance Theatre Minimi, Carl Knif Company, and Petri Kekoni Company. As a choreographer, his most recent work is SIDOKSIA (2022), created for Vantaa Dance Institute’s training theatre.
Teaching plays a significant role alongside Olli’s work as a dancer. He teaches classes in contemporary dance, dance acrobatics, floor technique, and contact work.
As a sound designer, Olli mainly works in performing arts but has also produced sound for installations, film scores, and commercials. As a musician and producer, he performs with the band Kahdeksan Vuodenaikaa, exploring a style that blends pop, electronic music, cinematic atmospheres, and ambient productions. His sound design credits include productions for Dance Theatre Minimi and Zodiak – Center for New Dance.

Mikko Kaukonen

Mikko Kaukonen is a performance designer who primarily works as a spatial and lighting designer. His practice is mainly situated within the fields of dance and performance art. In his work, Mikko is interested in performance dramaturgy from the designer’s perspective and in exploring the essential visual space and language for each piece. He has worked as a lighting master, lighting designer, sound designer, and performer, and aims for the audience to experience the performance as a cohesive whole that reflects the collective contribution of the team in engaging with the themes of the work.

Pinja Grönberg

Pinja Grönberg is a freelance dance artist based in Helsinki. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Stockholm University of the Arts in 2017. Pinja has worked as a dancer and performer in the independent contemporary dance scene, collaborating with a variety of choreographers and ensembles. Most recently, she has appeared in productions by Dance Theatre Minimi and Kielo Dance Company. Pinja also works as a teacher in diverse settings, engaging with both dance enthusiasts and professionals.

Elli Virtanen

Elli Virtanen is a Helsinki-based dance artist who will graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Dance and Choreography from Den Danske Scenekunstskole in spring 2024. Alongside her studies, Elli has worked extensively as a dancer and performer in various ensembles both in Finland and abroad. Most recently, she appeared as a dancer in Mikael Marcimain’s Netflix film An Honest Life (2023) and in the GENERATION 2023 exhibition at Amos Rex (2023).
In addition to her performance work, Elli also works as a choreographer. Her latest piece, SOFT BLAST, is part of Dansehallerne’s “New Shit” production (2024).

Maria Nurmela

Maria Nurmela, recipient of the ABOA grant (2020), is a freelance dance artist working regionally in her hometown Turku, as well as nationally and internationally. She creates multidisciplinary performances, produces events, dances in works by renowned choreographers, teaches dance, mentors, and works as a Feldenkrais practitioner.

Several internationally acclaimed choreographers, including Susanne Linke (2012–), Avidan Ben Giat (2019), and Susanna Leinonen (2019–2020), have engaged Maria in their works. Her longest collaboration has been with choreographer Tero Saarinen; Maria worked with Tero Saarinen Company from 2002 to 2017 as a dancer, rehearsal director, TERO technique teacher, and led the company’s four-year community art project Apollo Dances (2012–2017).

Since 2016, Maria has focused on her own artistic projects. Her works have been presented at numerous festivals both in Finland and abroad, such as Critical Path in Sydney (2019) and Palais de Tokyo in Paris (2018). Maria’s creations are often interdisciplinary, taking place in traditional theatre spaces as well as unconventional venues, and in digital and film formats. Through her work, she explores human and contemporary themes through embodiment, while also reflecting on non-human and interspecies perspectives. Analog processes often play a central role in her artistic approach.

Kalle Ropponen

Kalle Ropponen is a Finnish lighting designer (M.A.). He has been a resident designer at the Finnish National Theatre since April 2020. Having worked in numerous Finnish theatres, Ropponen’s recent artistic projects include Metsä Furiosa, Europeana, and Sanantuoja at the National Theatre, Niskavuoren nuori emäntä at Turku City Theatre, Don Giovanni at the Finnish National Opera, and Swan Lake at the Finnish National Ballet. Kalle Ropponen and Maria Nurmela have previously collaborated on Nurmela’s works Closer to the Wild Heart and Falling through the Disappearing Light.