Työväen Musiikkitapahtuma, Valkeakoski: ENCHANTING DANCE – Open-air Dancing as Cultural Heritage

Project Enchanting Dance aims to interest people of different ages in open-air dance culture – and to ensure its continuation by activating both school children and the elderly.

Finnish open-air-dance culture is a unique thing in the world, and Tampere Region still has several operating open-air dance pavilions. Kirjaslampi dance-pavilion in Valkeakoski is maintained by the dance event Työväen Musiikkitapahtuma, which produces the Enchanting Dance project.

The first stage of the project is planned for school children, and the second for the elderly. A two-day pilot event to test the plan was held in the autumn of 2021 with Operation Pirkanmaa’s support.

In the two-day dance pilot, a dance orchestra played traditional dance music and arranged favourite pieces chosen in advance by pupils into danceable potpourri. Dance teacher Anna Oja was present to teach dance steps and dance etiquette, so that the children could try different dances. The open-air-dancing day culminated in grilling sausages over a camp fire.

From 2022 to 2023, the project continues in Valkeakoski, but also expands to dance-pavilions in Pälkäne, Akaa and Urjala. The project has received 66,000 euros of funding from Pirkan Helmi’s Leader funding quota.

The project’s second stage will be carried out in 2023. Then, elderly people living in residential care homes can participate in a nostalgic dance day.

The elderly can get on the dance floor to reminisce about their own dancing years and try out their moves, while the orchestra plays familiar pieces. The event will also include singing together and a performance by dance teachers dressed in vintage clothes. Participants can share their memories – and to finish off, grill sausages, of course.

The organiser, Työväen Musiikkitapahtuma, celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2022.