This course is primarily aimed for HLBTIQ* participants with the intention of providing a safe space for working with individual motion and dance. Principles that guide the work include sensitivity, listening to oneself and others, and respecting everyone’s personal boundaries.

No earlier dance experience is required, but the classes are guaranteed to offer new perspectives to seasoned dancers as well. The principal focus of the classes is on motion- and dance-based improvisation. The methods also include exploration of motion and experiential anatomy, and the sessions also probe the potential of watching and being watched.

The course aims to challenge the binary notions of gender as well as the bodily and the aesthetic norms of traditional dance and sports, and to give everyone an opportunity to express themselves through motion and physicality. Diversions into textual and visual expression may also be used to support and accompany the work on motion. The fundamental aim of the classes is to build awareness of different bodily histories, mental images and emotions connected to the body, and to gently yet inspiringly encourage and guide the participants to the emancipatory, empowering and healing world of dance and motion – which everyone should be entitled to participate in.

Mondays 23.9.-11.11. at 18-19.30
Instructor: Veera Leppänen
Place: Zodiak studio C4
Duration: 8 times / 12 h
Participation fee: 110 euro
Enrolment by 8.9., THE WORKSHOP IS FULL

Veera Leppänen has studied dance and somatic methods in the Eastern Finland Sports Institute (ISLO), and has studied improvised and performative dance in many different courses and workshops in Helsinki. Her background is in street dance, where her favourite genre is house because of its freedom, passion and roots that are deep in the HLBTIQ* culture. She is a sexual therapist and a nurse, and has also studied gender studies. She has worked in various roles related to the themes of sexual orientation and gender plurality, and wants to make dance accessible to everyone


* * * * *

Availability is limited, so sign up in time! Welcome letters and invoices are sent to participants’ email address immediately after registration closes. If you do not find the course letter or the invoice in your email please also check the junk mail folder.

Enrolment is binding. Cancellations must be communicated on the last enrolment day by 6pm the latest by email to elina.ruoho-kurola@zodiak.fi. Please check this course's last day of enrolment from above. With the exception of injuries and illnesses certified in writing by a doctor, cancellations made later than the deadline are subject to full course fee. An administrative fee, 10 % of the course fee, will be charged from all cancellations.

Zodiak's courses and workshops can also be paid by Smartum kulttuuri and liikunta vouchers and by SmartumPay application as well as by Edenred Virikeseteli vouchers and MyEdenred mobile app. It is not possible to pay the course fee with cash or with debit/credit card.

For further inquiries, please contact Elina Ruoho-Kurola, elina.ruoho-kurola@zodiak.fi, p. 050 587 0470 (weekdays from 11 am to 4 pm).