Ilona Salonen
V.5 Daglig Träning/Daily Training
CONTEMPORARY
Tisdag & Onsdag 12-15, Ärlegården
Bio:
ILONA SALONEN is a freelance dance artist working as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer in Finland and across Europe. She holds a BA in Dance Pedagogy (Arts Academy at Turku University of Applied Sciences) and an MA in dance performance (Theatre Academy at Uniarts Helsinki). She has also studied at the SEAD – Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance, Austria. Ilona performs in contemporary dance works in the free field as well as in large opera productions. She has worked as a dancer in works by Sebastian Zuber, Zsuzsa Rozsavolgyi, and Willi Dorner in Switzerland, Austria, and Hungary, as well as in opera works at the Finnish National Opera. She is also a dance artist and member of the interdisciplinary and scientific collective Fern Orchestra and MP-kollektiivi, whose works have been presented both in Finland and internationally. Ilona is always fascinated by improvisation and by exploring the interfaces between different art forms and sciences. In recent years, Ilona has taught professional morning classes for the Helsinki Dance Company at Helsinki City Theatre, Tanssille ry and Turku Dansart ry, as well as for professional students at the Arts Academy at Turku University of Applied Sciences.
Class description:
IN CLASS you can immerse yourself in the worlds of contemporary dance and improvisation. After a variety of warm-ups, the workshop includes floorwork, improvisation exercises, and movement sequences. We focus on anatomically safe and functional movement, supported by effortless breathing. We challenge ourselves and play with our imagination. Throughout the workshop, we practice dancing, spatial awareness, and performing in diverse ways, exploring different qualities, rhythms, and nuances. The workshop builds gradually, moving from one exercise to the next, guiding dancers toward a richer, more multidimensional practice — where movement flows freely, space becomes a partner, and the joy of dancing is always present. Lately I have been inspired by e.g. Adrienn Hód, Linda Kapetanea and Jozef Frucek (RootlessRoot / Fighting Monkey).