Celebrate International Dance Day at the Opera House

The Finnish National Opera and Ballet is joining the celebrations for International Dance Day 2024. This year, the theme of the Dance Day is street dance.

During the event, audiences are invited to watch the Finnish National Ballet’s rehearsals, and the Opera House opens its doors to dancers of various genres, with a particular focus on street dance and street dance culture. Dance groups and other attendees will also have the opportunity to join two street dance classes led by esteemed instructors. More details on the instructors can be found here.

Entry to the event is free. Registration for dance groups and registration to the Finnish National Ballet’s rehearsals have ended.

Dance Day programme

2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Dance groups rehearse independently in the foyer areas of the Opera House
3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Augusto Guerra’s dance class held in the foyer areas of the Opera House
4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Kashika Arora’s dance class in the foyer areas of the Opera House
6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. The Finnish National Ballet’s rehearsal in Almi Hall
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Finnish National Ballet’s rehearsal in Almi Hall

Light refreshments and snacks will be available for purchase during the event at the Opera Restaurant café. The café in the Main Foyer will be open from 2 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Attendees are also welcome to bring their own refreshments, but please note that consumption of food and drink is not permitted in the auditorium.

The customer service desk and Opera Shop will remain open later than usual, until 7 p.m.

Registration for dance groups

Registration has closed.

Our aim is to organise a fun and relaxed event where dance groups can rehearse their choreographies using their own music equipment, while also meeting other dance enthusiasts and finding out more about the Finnish National Ballet. The independent rehearsal time (from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.) is intended for dancers aged 12 to 18.

The groups will have the chance to participate in dance classes led by Augusto Guerra and Kashika Arora. Details about the instructors are available further down on this page. Augusto Guerra’s dance class will be conducted in English. The dance groups are also welcome to stay on and watch the Finnish National Ballet’s 6 p.m. rehearsal in Almi Hall.

Programme for dance groups:

2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Dance groups rehearse independently in the foyer areas of the Opera House
3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Augusto Guerra’s dance class held in the foyer areas of the Opera House
4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Kashika Arora’s dance class in the foyer areas of the Opera House
6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. The Finnish National Ballet’s rehearsal in Almi Hall

Please note that space for participating groups is limited, and we might not be able to accommodate all who register. If registrations exceed our capacity, we may need to restrict attendance numbers. Registration has closed on 8 April.

Registration to watch the Finnish National Ballet’s rehearsals

Registration has closed.

Observe the work of professional dancers at a rehearsal of the Finnish National Ballet in Almi Hall. There will be two rehearsals, from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with a 15 minute break between the rehearsals. 

You can reserve your place in the audience by filling in the form below (in Finnish). Please respect the need for quiet for the dancers and choreographers to work effectively. As complete silence is needed in the hall during the rehearsal, the event is not suitable for children under 7 years old.

instructors

Augusto Guerra

Augusto Guerra’s dance class will be conducted in English from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the foyer areas of the Opera House.

Brazilian Augusto Guerra has been a dancer since 2004. After participating in and winning several competitions in both his native country and Finland, he is now dedicating his time to a DJ career.

Augusto teaches the movement language of different hip hop styles and rhythms. His classes involve warming up,  strength training, dancing, and stretching, as well as honing technical skills and expression. As different street dance styles are constantly evolving and merging, Augusto’s classes can at times be influenced by other street dance genres.

Kashika Arora

Kashika Arora’s dance class will be conducted in Finnish from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the foyer areas of the Opera House.

Kashika Arora is a professional dancer and choreographer who has been working in the industry (television, music videos and live performances etc.) since she was 14. She has danced on multiple national tours with artists and also performed at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium with Kaija Koo. She has been internationally trained in places such as London, India, Barcelona, Amsterdam and Helsinki.

Kashika’s class will be focused on commercial choreography. Commercial as a style is what you see displayed in different forms of media such as music videos, commercials, live shows etc. Kashika strives to push, inspire and create a positive space so that every single person that comes to class leaves feeling fulfilled and like they have learnt something new.

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Photo is from Reija Wäre’s work Clique, dancer: Akim Bakhtaoui.

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