Organization

JoJo – Oulu Dance Centre

JoJo – Oulu Dance Center is a professional dance production center operating in the northern Finland’s vibrant dance art field, where the members of the association have the highest authority.

About organization

JoJo - Oulu Dance Centre

JoJo – Oulu Dance Centre is a professional dance production centre in northern Finland, which offers an international, multi-species dance repertoire, with the main focus on contemporary dance. The program also includes the OuDance Festival organized in autumn.

JoJo’s audience work offers an activity open to everyone, participation in which does not require experience in dance or watching dance.

For dance professionals, JoJo is a production center and visiting theater and offers international residency exchange programs.

JoJo is a member of Suomen Teatterit ry, the national employer organization in the theater industry.

JoJo is one of the seven members of the regional dance center network. The goal of the network is the equal availability and accessibility of dance arts services and to increase the work opportunities of dance artists in the free field.

JoJo – Oulu Dance Center is funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the City of Oulu.

JoJo’s background organization is an association.

The strategy 2026

The strategy of JoJo – Oulu Dance Center is valid until 2026. The strategy was processed by JoJo’s board, staff and  collaboratiors in five strategy workshops in 2021. The strategy process was led by Janne Marniemi from Beat Next.

JoJo’s mission

JoJo is a professional dance production center, festival organization and visiting theater. JoJo offers local, international and national dance repertoire and audience work all year round and is active participant in dance art field.

JoJo´s vision for 2026

Accessible and sustainable center of northern dance art.

The strategic goal is to develop JoJo as accessible and sustainable center of northern dance art.

The priorities to achieve the vision are developing audience, participant and community base, developing digital services, increasing and expanding visibility, ensuring safe workplace and community, and using ecological methods in all actions. 

JoJo´s values

Quality -JoJo is an innovative dance art professional organization whose operation is based on strong expertise. Quality is ensured by goal-oriented, reflective and renewing work. All actions are aiming to transparency, accessibility and reliability.

Cooperation -JoJo is supporting creativity by enabling dialogues and bringing different participants together. JoJo is an interactive and open-minded partner. JoJo creates an easily approachable, appreciative and inclusive platform for cooperation.

Responsibility – JoJo supports equality in all its activities. JoJo´s multidisciplinary and versatile operation increases the diversity of dance art field. All operations are aiming at environmental ecology and the sustainable development of dance art.

Board for 2023-2024

Henna Holma, Chairman, Director of Drama and Theater Classes, Dance Teacher (Bachelor of Arts)
Anni Heikkinen, Vice President, M.Sc. (Dance Research), Dance Teacher (BA)
Miia Ahonen, Member of the Board, Dance Teacher (BA)
Eerika Arposalo, Member of the Board, Master of Dance, Master of Education
Heta Haanperä, Member of the Board, Master of Arts (Theatre and Drama)

The board is elected at the association’s statutory autumn meeting for two years at a time. The task of the board is to supervise that the activities of the association are carried out in the manner prescribed by the regulations of the Associations Act and the association’s own rules. The Board oversees that JoJo’s operations are carried out annually in accordance with the action plan and budget decided at the autumn meeting. The Board acts as the employer of the production center staff.

Artistic Select Committee 2024

Miia Ahonen, Dance teacher (Bachelor of Culture and Arts)
Heta Haanperä, Master of Arts
Jukka Heinänen, Dramatist
Heli Pippinsköld, Dancer, Dance teacher (Bachelor of Culture and Arts)
Jouni Prittinen, Choreographer, Dance teacher
Helena Lindqvist, Managing Director, M.Sc. (Art Research)

The Artistic Select Committee selects JoJo’s annual production and visiting program as well as the program for OuDance Festival. There is an open call for applications for production and program open to all professionals every year.

Production Center Staff

Helena Lindqvist, Executive  Director, M.Sc. (Art Research) 
Mira Kolanen, Producer, Dance Teacher (Master’s degree)
Leea Alatalo, Audience Work Coordinator, Master of Education

The artistic staff working at JoJo comes from the freelance field of dance. JoJo employs more than a hundred dance and performing arts professionals every year.