Database search
Viitanen, Pirjo
| Date of birth | 19.7.1944 |
| Profession |
Dancer Dance Instructor Choreographer |
| Country | Finland |
| Training |
Institute of Modern Dance (Riitta Vainio) 1964 - 1967, The Place and Dance Centre, London, 1967, 1969, 1973; Martha Graham Studio, Merce Cunnigham Studio, Alvin Ailey Studio, New York 1970, 1973, 1982; Centre de la Danse and Paris Opera (Carolyn Carlson), Paris 1976, 1977, 1981; Dansakademien and Cullberg baletten, Stockholm 1972, 1974. Courses: courses organised by the Union of the Finnish Dance Artists 1965 - 1972; Internationale Sommerakademie des Tanzes, Cologne 1966, 1967; Choreography Seminar, Oslo 1980; master course, Kuopio Dance Festival 1992. |
| Engagements |
Dance Theatre Polar: artistic director (1980 - 1982) |
| Choreographed |
Partaalla (1981) 543 (1999) 30+56=86 Aeg olla - aika olla (2000) Andante Festivo (2001) Collage teemasta B-A-C-H (2001) Olen paikka, jossa tapahtuu jotakin (2002) I Have a Dream (2004) |
| Work as a dancer |
He kaksi (1965) Kosketus (Vainio) (1965) Liekki (1965) Uhka (1965) Yks' toiseen potenssiin (1965) Ajatuksemme sinisessä - vihreässä - keltaisessa (1966) Ferekoroba, afrikkalaisittain (1966) Frustrated Love (1966) Meloni, Me pienet tanssin siemenet (1966) Sinä - minä - hän - me (1966) Archaic Ritual (1967) Barumba (1967) Kahlehditut (1967) Ovi elämään (1967) Päärynän muotoinen tanssi (1967) Piccolo Concerto (1967) Syntiinlankeemus (1967) Tanssi trioleille (1967) Tanssi trioleille (1967) "Vai niin on" (1968) Burletta (1968) Hahmoteatteri/Visuaalinen yö (1968) Iltavirsi (1968) Musta talo (1968) Nelikätinen Shiva (1968) Panin huilu (1968) Runosarja/Tuleminen (1968) Satu sormuksesta (1968) Concerto Grosso (1969) Dibbuk (1969) Juoru (1969) Lyömäsoitinetydi (1969) Satu (Arvelo) (1969) Kehän kiertämää (1971) Konsertto tanssijoille (1971) Huuto (Keinänen) (1972) Plus ja miinus (1972) Sinuhe - Harjoitelmia aiheesta Sinuhe Egyptiläinen (1973) Partaalla (1981) 543 (1999) Sade ja Kaari (1999) 30+56=86 Aeg olla - aika olla (2000) Andante Festivo (2001) Collage teemasta B-A-C-H (2001) Olen paikka, jossa tapahtuu jotakin (2002) Ihanan dramaattisia naisia! (2003) Family Portraits (2004) I Have a Dream (2004) Sydänrumpu (2004) Valuma (2004) |
| Other artistic work |
Work as a choreographer in theatre and opera: 1970s - Irtonaiset (pantomime, speach, song and dance work), dir. Ritva Arvelo, chor. Ritva Arvelo, Hannele Keinänen, Rauni Koskinen, Karin Könönen, Fred Negendanck, Pirjo Viitanen, 1971; Morjens maailma, dir. Pentti Kotkaniemi, AHAA Theater 1973; Hamlet, dir. Jotaarkka Pennanen, Jyväskylä City Theatre 1975; Cabaret, dir. Jotaarkka Pennanen and Lauri Tarkiainen, Jyväskylä City Theatre 1976; Hawaijin kukka, dir. Eikka Lehtonen, Hämeenlinna City Theatre 1976; Cabaret, dir. Jori Savolainen, Vaasa City Theatre 1976; Jalkavaras on lemmen suosikki, dir. Eira Jaurens, Helsinki City Theatre 1978; Tukkijoella, dir. Timo Ojala, Oulu City Theatre 1978; Jenufa, dir. Sakari Puurunen, The Finnish National Opera 1979. 1980s - Romeo and Juliet, dir. Jotaarkka Pennanen, Turku City Theatre 1980; Isänmaa, dir. Lasse Lindeman, Kuopio City Theatre 1980; Hamlet, dir. Ossi Räikkä, Tampere Theatre 1980 (choreography for one scene); Saippuakauppias, dir. Pertti Melasniemi, Uusi Iloinen Teatteri 1981; Aniara, dir. Väinö Vainio, TTT Theatre of Tampere 1981; King Lear, dir. Jotaarkka Pennanen, Finnish National Theatre 1983; Les Miserables, dir. Rauli Lehtonen and Pirjo Viitanen, Tampere Theatre 1984; Mephisto, dir. Olli Tola, Finnish National Theatre 1985; The Wedding of Figaro, dir. Jukka-Pekka Rotko, Kokkola City Theatre 1987; The Government Inspector, dir. Ritva Siikala, Kokkola City Theatre 1988; Othello, dir. Stune Ekholm, Kokkla City Theatre 1988; A Solider's Tale, dir. Jukka-Pekka Rotko, Kokkola City Theatre 1989; 1990s - Vanhempieni romaani, dir. Lasse Lindeman, Kuopio City Theatre 1990; Meripoikia, dir. Pekka Sonck, Vaasa City Theatre 1992; Carmen, dir. Taisto-Bertil Orsmaa, Vaasa City Theatre 1993; Miss Julie, dir. Taisto-Bertil Orsmaa, Vaasa Opera and Vaasa City Theatre 1994 (choreography for one dance scene); Jesus Christ Superstar, dir. Matts Holmqvist, Youth affairs office of the City of Kokkola and Karleby Ungdomsförening 1994; Tango veressä, dir. Taisto-Bertil Orsmaa, Vaasa City Theatre 1994; She loves me, dir. Tapio Parkkinen, Jyväskylä City Theatre 1995; Cabaret, dir. Ossi Räikkä, Kokkola City Theatre 1996; Victoria and her Husar, dir. Reino Bragge, Joensuu City Theatre 1997; Sound of Music, dir. Ossi Räikkä, Kokkola City Theatre, 1998. 2000's - Myrskypääsky, dir. Jari Ålander, Kokkola City Theatre 2000; Gabriel tule takaisin, dir. Anita Myllymäki, Kokkola City Theatre 2001; Jääkärin morsian, dir. Markus Packalén, Vaasa City Theatre 2003; The Last Temptations, dir. Ossi Räikkä, Kokkola City Theatre 2004; Panu, dir. Jorma Kairamo, Cultural Society of Koli 2006. Work as a director's choreographic assistant: Moreeni, dir. Ossi Räikkä, TTT Theatre of Tampere 1985; Hard luck's children, dir. Kaisa Korhonen, TTT Theatre of Tampere 1999. Work as a choreographer in tv: Kertaheitolla/Akvarius, dir. Jorma Molarius, YLE TV1 1969; Elämäni parhain aika, dir. Jotaarkka Pennanen, YLE TV1 1977; Tanka - lyhyitä lauluja, dir. Jotaarkka Pennanen, YLE TV2 1978; Palava susi, dir. Eija-Elina Bergholm, YLE TV2 1980; Lulu, dir. Eija-Elina Bergholm, YLE TV2 1981; Isolde pakolainen, dir. Eija-Elina Bergholm, YLE TV2 1982; Pianonvartija (tv series), dir. Jouko Konttinen, YLE TV2 1983; Yö ja aurinko, dir. Eija-Elina Bergholm, YLE TV2 2000; in addition in several entertainment programmes produced by the Finnish Broadcasting Companies in the 1960s and 70's. Work as a dancer in tv and in theatre: Rakkain rakastaja, dir. and chor. Ritva Arvelo, Helsinki City Theatre 1965; Ruma Elsa - a musical comedy, dir. Sirppa Sivori-Asp, chor. Heikki Värtsi, TV Theatre 1965; Faust, dir. Peter Palitzsdrin, Jack Witikka, chor. Riitta Vainio, The Finnish National Theatre 1966; Der Garf von Luxemburg, dir. Sirppa Sivori-Asp, TV Theatre 1966 (role: Clairette); Juha (opera), dir. Lauri-Juhani Ruuskanen, chor. Riitta Vainio, The Finnish National Opera 1967; The Clown, dir. Mirjam Himberg, chor. Hannele Keinänen, TV Theatre 1968; Miehen tie, dir. Anja-Maija Leppänen, chor. Hannele Keinänen, YLE TV1 1969; Kertaheitolla/Akvarius, dir. Jorma Molarius, YLE TV1 1969; Irtonaiset (pantomime, speach, song and dancework), dir. Ritva Arvelo, chor. Ritva Arvelo, Hannele Keinänen, Rauni Koskinen, Karin Könönen, Fred Negendanck, Pirjo Viitanen, 1971; Samurai (TV Ballet), chor. Hannele Keinänen 1971; Tanka - lyhyitä lauluja, dir. Jotaarkka Pennanen, YLE TV2 1978; Isolde pakolainen, dir. Eija-Elina Bergholm, YLE TV2 1982; in addition in several entertainment programmes produced by the Finnish Broadcasting Companies in the 1960s and 70's. Other work as a dancer: dance numbers, chor. Solveig Åkerberg, Pijo Viitanen, Wild Western Show/Danny Tour 1969; performances together with Eino Virtanen, Viktor Klimenko, Heikki Värtsi ja Simo Salminen at the turn of the 1960s and the 1970s; Hair Fashion Show Tour, chor. Margaretha von Bahr (a duet with Lauri Lehto) 1969. Work as a teacher: Institute of Modern Dance (Riitta Vainio) 1964 - 1967, The Union of Finnish Dance Artists, professional classes 1968 - 1980; Theatre School of Finland, in the beginning of the 1970s; Dance Theatre Raatikko, in the 1970s; Helsinki City Theatre Dance Company, at the end of the 1970s, 1993; Finnish National Opera Ballet School in the 1970s; Dance Theatre Polar and school, 1980 - 1982; Department of acting of the University of Tampere 1982 - 1985; Kokkola City Theatre 1989, Kokkola Dance Institute in the 1990s, College of Keski-Pohjanmaa, Kälviä 1988 - 1999; Tantsuteater Fine 5, Tallinn 1999; Pedagogical School of Estonia 1999, Conservatory of Viljand, Estonia, 1999. Work as a director: Allakan lehtiä ullakolla, Kokkola City Theatre 1989 (also adaptation); Kuinka preeriasusi loi ihmisen, Kokkola City Theatre 1990 (also adaptation); Komedia sillalla (chamber opera), Conservatory of Keski-Pohjanmaa, Kokkola 1994; Dreams (youth musical), Rock and jazz school of Kokkola and youth affairs office of the City of Kokkola, 1998. Artistic director of the Kokkolan talvitanssit dance event, 1994 - 1999, 2001-2010. |
| Grants and awards |
Grants: The Union of Finnish Dance Artists 1969, Finnish Cultural Foundation 1970, The City of Helsinki 1970, six-month state grant to artists 1973, Arts Council of Uusimaa 1977, 1980; oneyear state grant to artists 1981, five-year state grant to artists 1989, Cultural Fund of Keski-Pohjanmaa 1997, Arts Council of Pohjanmaa 1998, 2000; Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation 2000, Arts Council of Pohjanmaa, three-year grant to artists 2001; supplementary artist pension 2005. Acknowledgements: Golden Medal for Merit, The Union of Finnish Dance Artists 1997; Silver Medal for Merit, City of Kokkola 2005; Kokkola Award 2006; Finnish Cultural Foundation/Central Ostrobothnia Regional Fund, Cultural Award, 2012. |
| Videography and TV recordings | Elämäni parhain aika, dir. Jotaarkka Pennanen, YLE TV1 1977; Tanka - lyhyitä lauluja, dir. Jotaarkka Pennanen, YLE TV2 1978; Palava susi, dir. Eija-Elina Bergholm, YLE TV2 1980; Lulu, dir. Eija-Elina Bergholm, YLE TV2 1981; Isolde pakolainen, dir. Eija-Elina Bergholm, YLE TV2 1982; Yö ja aurinko, dir. Eija-Elina Bergholm, YLE TV2 2000. |
| Other Information |
Positions of trust: The Union of Finnish Dance Artists - chairman 1973, member of the board, 1971 - 1972, 1976 - 1977, 1979 - 1980; The Union of Finnish Dance Artists' representative in the collective bargaining, 1976, 1979; member of the committee drafting the collective agreement for choreographers, The Union of Finnish Dance Artists, 1999 - 2000; National Council for Dance - vice-chairman 1983 - 1985, member 1986 - 1988, 1998 - 2000, 2007 - 2009; representative of dance in the subcommittee of children's culture of the Arts Council of Finland 1998 - 2000; member of the Arts Council of Vaasa, 1989 - 1994; chairman of Tanssin tuki of the Province of Vaasa 1989 - 1996; planning committee of the Cultural Committee of Keski-Pohjanmaan Liitto 1995; chairman of the Dance Council of Pohjanmaa 1998 - 2000; chairman of the Arts Council of Pohjanmaa 2004 - 2006. |