Ballet school at the barre

International Summer Intensive

The next Finnish National Opera and Ballet’s International Summer Intensive will be held from
Monday 19.7 until Saturday 31.7.2021.

After the cancellation of last year’s Summer Intensive, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are ready to welcome you again in our beautiful Finnish National Opera House.

The whole world has had a rough time in 2020 and unfortunately, now at the start of 2021, we are still living in challenging times.
Comparing to many other places, Finland has been doing relatively well during the pandemic and therefore, we have high hopes that we will be able to teach the classes in person.
We will, however, prepare ourselves to teach an adapted online/hybrid course in case of a
Force Majeure as well.

We offer a program consisting of Classical Ballet, Repertoire, Contemporary, Character Dance and Jazz Dance. For the older participants there will be a Contemporary Repertoire Workshop focusing on the repertoire of Finnish/British choreographer Kristian Lever.

The Summer Intensive is for students aged 12–22 years.

All classes will be held in the Finnish National Ballet’s first-class facilities, located in Helsinki,
the capital city of Finland.

On this page you’ll find information about the programme of our Summer Intensive, how to apply, tuition fees, teachers and accommodation. For additional information please contact us at summer.intensive@opera.fi.
Please quote: “your full name” in the subject line of your email.

 

We are looking forward to welcome you in Helsinki in July 2021.

Tervetuloa Suomeen! Welcome to Finland!

Summer Intensive

“I’m really happy with this Summer Intensive. It’s really well organized with nice and prepared teachers…Thank you for this amazing time!”

By a senior participant

Summer Intensive

Our Summer Intensive is designed to give young dancers a chance to get good training and improve their dance skills in classical ballet, but also to give them a taste of other dance techniques and to introduce them to Finnish contemporary teachers and choreographers.
Every morning we will start with an alternative training session to wake up the body in a healthy way and train also with different muscles.

These sessions will be Cardio Training, Pilates and a Floor Barre and will rotate so that all participants get to train in these different techniques.

All classes will take place in the spacious studios of the Finnish National Opera, the house of the Finnish National Ballet and will be taught by an international faculty. The Summer Intensive is also the perfect place to make new contacts and broaden your network.

Helsinki, Finland’s capital city is a beautiful and safe city in the North of Europe with a good connection to the world and with less than 10 hours flying, fairly close to Asia.

Follow us:
Instagram: fnob_summerintensive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ISIHelsinki/

Dates

Summer Intensive

The Summer Intensive will take place from 19.7 until 31.7.2021.
We highly recommend attending the intensive during both weeks, but it is also possible to attend only one week.

Week 1: 19 July–24 July 2021

Week 2: 26 July–31 July 2021

Sunday 25.7 is a free day.

How to apply

Balettitanssija_harjoitussali

Application dates

Applications opeN 1 FEBRUAry 2021
Applications deadline 1 May 2021

Applying online; only possible for applicants above the age of 18. Applicants under the age of 18, please apply by email (see instructions below).

Applying by email; download our Summer Intensive Application Form (PDF) and return by email to summer.intensive@opera.fi. Add “Summer Intensive Application + full name” in the subject line of your email.

Apply online

Download Application Form

Please note that all students must be aged 12–22 years.

Applicants attending a professional education program (e.g. students of a National or a Royal Ballet School) can enroll by filling out the application form and include a recommendation letter of their school’s director and/or current ballet teacher.

Applicants who are a member of a Company or Youth Company can enroll by filling out the application form and include their CV.

Applicants of private ballet schools need to fill out the application form and include a video link (e.g. through YouTube or WeTransfer).

Video requirements:

A video with no introduction or fancy editing, consisting of the following performed in leotard and tights for women and tight fitting dance attire for men:

  • 3–5 minutes of barre work, incorporating both sides, danced in soft shoes.
  • 3–5 minutes of center work that includes adagio, pirouettes, petit and grand allegro. Some pointe work for female applicants.
  • Optional: a classical variation drawn from the standard repertoire, danced in pointe shoes by female applicants (this can be also from a performance).

Tuition

Summer Intensive

Two-week Summer Intensive: € 1450 (VAT incl.).

Early birds: € 1250 (VAT incl.), registration latest by 31.3.2021.

One-week Summer Intensive: € 850 (VAT incl.).

Sibling reduction: 50% of the normal price starting from the second child of the same family.

The tuition fee includes all classes and a warm lunch. The cost of accommodation is not included. Upon acceptance you will receive a link via e-mail which includes payment instructions. The first part of the tuition fee will need to be paid within three (3) weeks in order to reserve your place in our Summer Intensive.

Buffa, the personnel restaurant in the opera house, will be open throughout the day. During their breaks, participants will be able to purchase drinks, snacks, fruits etc.

Cancellation policies and insurances

Cancellations

A refund will only be possible in case a cancellation is made due to a health problem, made before 31.5.2021 and a medical certificate is presented. For all other cancellations an administrative cost of
€ 250 will be deducted of the amount to be refunded.

Covid-19

When a participant is unable to attend due to travel restrictions, or if any other Force Majeure situation occurs because of the currently ongoing pandemic, she/he will be offered to attend an adapted online/hybrid program. The tuition fee of this alternative program will be:

  • €500 for the Full Course
  • €350 for a one-week course

This tuition fee will be deducted from the refund.
When the offer is rejected, the participant will receive a refund with a deduction of a €250 administrative cost.

Insurance

All participants are advised to have an accident insurance. They are not insured through The Finnish National Opera and Ballet. The organizer is not reliable for any injuries and/or health problems.

Summer Intensive

“The teaching was of a high standard, nicely challenging us.”

By a Junior (age 12-13) participant

Faculty

Mia Stagh

Sweden
Ballet Teacher & Artistic Director Alhanko Academy of Ballet
Classical Ballet – Repertoire
See Mia’s bio here (PDF)

Ophélie Rodighiero

France
Ballet Teacher Ballet School of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet
Classical Ballet – Repertoire – Floor Barre
See Ophélie’s bio here

Rebecca King

USA
First Soloist – Finnish National Ballet
International Communications Coordinator – YAGP
Classical Ballet – Repertoire
See Rebecca’s bio here (PDF)

Javier Torres

Mexico/Finland
International Guest Teacher
Choreographer
Classical Ballet – Repertoire
See Javier’s bio here (PDF)

Wilfried Jacobs

Belgium
International Guest Teacher
Artistic Advisor & Consultant
Classical Ballet – Repertoire
See Wilfried’s bio here (PDF)

Jutta Mustakallio

Finland
Character Dance Teacher – Ballet School Finnish National Opera and Ballet
Ballet Production Planner – Finnish National Ballet
Character Dance
See Jutta’s bio here (PDF)

Kristian Lever

Finland/UK
Artistic Director, Choreographer
KLEVER DANCE  Company
Contemporary – Contemporary Repertoire Workshop
See Kristian’s bio here

Riku Lehtopolku

Finland
Dancer, Choreographer & Repetitor
Artistic Director of Kuopio Dance Festival
Contemporary
See Riku’s bio here (PDF)

Nina Pastel

Finland
Pilates Instructor, Jazz Teacher – Self Employed
Pilates & Jazz Dance
See Nina’s bio here (PDF)

Henrik Burman

Sweden
Strength & Body Conditioning Teacher – Ballet School Finnish National Opera and Ballet
Cardio Training
See Henrik’s bio here

 

The organization has the right to make changes to the faculty, to the content of the course and make it an online/hybrid event in case of a Force Majeure. It goes without saying that, when needed, we will use substitute teachers who are experts in their field.

Summer Intensive

“All the teachers taught us politely. I learned a lot and it was very much fun.”

By a Junior (age 14–15) participant

Schedule

Download here the schedule of the Summer Intensive (PDF). These schedules are preliminary and are subject to change.

Week 1

Week 2

Summer Intensive

“I liked the fact that we had for example Pilates first thing in the morning because it warmed our bodies nicely.”

By a senior participant

Accommodation

We have reserved rooms in the recently renovated apartments of Töölö Towers. They are situated on a 10 minutes walking distance,
or two (2) tram stops, from the Opera house.

We negotiated a good deal for the participants of the Summer Intensive:

Single room € 61/day

Shared one-bedroom flat, 2 persons € 51/day

Shared two-bedroom flat, 4 persons € 43/day

All prizes are based on a stay of 14 nights (period 18.7–1.8.2021) and include breakfast. The rooms are cleaned, and the towels and bedlinen changed once a week.

Reservations are made through us. Bills are paid directly to Töölö Towers. Your reservation will only be confirmed after we received your payment for the Summer Intensive. The rooms go on a first come/first served basis.

For more info visit https://en.unihome.fi/locations/toolo-towers/

Pictures of the Finnish National Opera and the ballet studios

Oopperatalo
Oopperatalo ulkoa
Oopperatalo_Töölönlahti
Oopperatalo_Töölönlahti
Studio 1
Studio 2
Studio 3

“I have spent a beautiful week in Helsinki last week, I have learned and grown so much, it has been helpful for many aspects and I will take everything to improve for my future.”

By a senior participant