About Me
I am a dance artist and doctoral researcher at the Theatre Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki. In my artistic research, I examine the epistemic agency of dancers with and without intellectual disabilities, focusing on how diverse embodied knowledges are manifested and applied in improvisation-based artistic processes. This enquiry is conducted with Ihanat Company, an inclusive dance company that includes dancers with and without intellectual disabilities. The Kone Foundation supports my research.
I founded the Ihanat Company and have developed my artistic and pedagogical practice over the past decade through long-term collaboration with its dancers, as well as with other artists. I have over 15 years of experience with community-based projects, often situated outside conventional performance contexts. In recent years, I have co-choreographed and facilitated several works with the Ihanat Company and performed in projects that explored social class and its embodied dimensions.
I hold a Bachelor of Dance Pedagogy and a Master's degree in Cultural History, supplemented with studies in live art and vocational teacher qualification. Alongside my doctoral research, I remain active in the arts field, with a strong focus on promoting inclusivity and community dance approaches, as well as facilitating accessible environments in the performing arts.
I am a visiting lecturer, mentor, and external examiner in university dance performance and pedagogy programmes, focusing on community dance, inclusivity, and expanded contexts of contemporary dance. I am also a sought-after lecturer and workshop facilitator, leading trainings related to community dance, participatory arts, and the use of art-based methods, especially in language learning contexts. I have co-authored peer-reviewed articles on embodied language learning, the tensions between art-based pedagogy and community art, and inclusive choreographic thinking that extends consideration to both performers and the diverse needs of audience members.
I hold trusted positions in various dance communities, currently acting as chairperson of the Tanssiareena Association (organiser of the Moving in November Contemporary Dance Festival) and as a board member of the Community Dances Association (Yhteisö tanssii ry). Through my work and organisational roles, I continuously strive to advance accessibility and inclusion in the performing arts.
Photo:
Soili Huhtakallio: Working Class Background Embodied
Updated 19 Sep 2025
