How does a student’s own dance piece come to be? What kind of theme does the student want to explore, and what does the student want to convey through dance? These questions will be explored in the fall workshops, as students working on their final projects for Hurja Piruetti’s extensive dance curriculum work under the guidance of teacher and academic advisor Ulla Koho. The fall workshops kicked off last Saturday with an information session and movement improvisation workshops.
In their final projects, students get to bring their own artistic ideas to life and draw on the dance skills they’ve developed over the years. The theme, movement language, and approach to the piece are all based on the student’s own interests. The final project process focuses specifically on developing the student’s own movement language and refining it further. Ulla works alongside the students throughout the various stages of the process, supporting them in developing their ideas, making artistic choices, and bringing their work to life.
Creating one’s own work requires time, experimentation, perseverance, and decision-making. The original idea may evolve along the way, and it is precisely during this process that students have the opportunity to reflect on what kind of dancer and artist they are.
Two Ways to Delve Deeper into Your Own Dance
At Hurja Piruetti, the extensive dance curriculum comprises 48.1 credits. The final project included in the program consists of an artistic and a written component, and it is also evaluated by an external dance professional.
Our students also have the opportunity to earn a high school diploma in dance as part of a long-term collaboration between Hurja Piruetti, Karjaa High School, Karis-Billnäs Gymnasium, and Ekenäs Gymnasium. The high school diploma includes a dance project, written documentation of the creative process, and a research paper.
Both opportunities to develop their own choreography offer young people the chance to delve deeper into their own dance practice and into the role of a choreographer. During the final project process, the students take responsibility for the various aspects and planning stages involved in the artistic work. In their works, they are free to explore themes that are personally meaningful to them.
The students’ own works on stage in November
The final project process has now begun, and over the coming months, these ideas will begin to take shape as dance pieces. What kinds of themes will the young people choose, and what kinds of works will emerge from them?
The completed final projects will be presented at Tryckeriteatteri on Friday, November 27, 2026. The audience can look forward to the young people’s own perspectives, diverse movement languages, and the skills they have developed over years of dance study.