Two Turkic dancers secure contracts abroad

Two dancers from Turku, Lotta Kolehmainen, 20, and Ruusa Orpo, 22, will begin working abroad this autumn, Yle reports.

Kolehmainen will join Ballet de Catalunya in Spain, while Orpo has been accepted into EBB Junior Ballet in France. Orpo will pause her business studies at Turku School of Economics to focus on dancing.

Both women have danced since the age of four. Kolehmainen graduated in May from the Finnish National Opera and Ballet’s ballet school. She applied independently, submitting videos to dance companies as part of her job search.

She is currently attending the international Turku Dance Camp, where she gains confidence and feedback from international teachers. “It gives you the courage to go out into the world,” Kolehmainen said.

Orpo applied to EBB Junior Ballet through a two-stage audition process, first submitting a video with ballet and contemporary solos, followed by an in-person audition in Amsterdam. She described the process as nerve-wracking.

Orpo has danced since childhood and worked as an assistant teacher at Raija Lehmussaari’s ballet school. She does not necessarily aim for a professional dancing career but remains open to combining dance with her business background.

The Turku Dance Camp, now in its third year, has gathered around 130 dancers and teachers from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Spain, and Ukraine. The camp’s artistic director, Katariina Edling—a former soloist with the Royal Swedish Ballet—emphasises the importance of initiative for dancers seeking work abroad.

Edling noted that the Finnish National Ballet does not automatically hire Finnish dancers, nor do other companies operate under national quotas. Success depends on individual appeal to artistic directors.

Finnish dancers are increasingly seeking opportunities abroad, with some, like Marko Juusela, securing positions such as soloist with the Australian Ballet.