Lecturers and Topics

10:15-11 The Importance of rest and sleep for recovery, skill learning and overall wellbeing

Veera Kainulainen, PhD

Dr. Kainulainen works as a Healthy Gymnasts/Athlete specialist in Finnish Gymnastic Federation and in Kisakallio Sport Institute as well as a post-doctoral researcher in Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki. She used to work as a head coach of Finnish National Team of aesthetic group gymnastics for ten years (2007-2017). She is a microbiologist as well as a professional gymnastics coach and her specialities and main interests are human gut microbiota and its role in health and disease, immunology and how environmental and behavioral factors affect well-being, health, gut-brain axis as well as learning of motor and physical skills. 

Abstract:

11-11:45 The role of nutrition in dancer´s career - a lifespan approach to performance, health and recovery

Laura Manner

Laura Manner is a former professional contemporary dancer, student and performer, as well as a sports nutritionist for the Metropolitan Sports academy Urhea and the Finnish Olympic Committee.
Nutrition is a key element of health in our daily life. It has an impact in many levels of professional and sub-elite dancing and athletic careers. So how does nutrition affect the health, recovery and performance of a dancer throughout the lifespan? Where do nutrition and prevention of illnesses and injury meet? What are the warning signs of a non-functional nutritional status for a dancer and how does dancing affect our relationship with food and eating?

Abstract: 

Nutrition is a key element of health in our daily life. It has an impact in many levels of professional and sub-elite dancing and athletic careers. So how does nutrition affect the health, recovery and performance of a dancer throughout the lifespan? Where do nutrition and prevention of illnesses and injury meet? What are the warning signs of a non-functional nutritional status for a dancer and how does dancing affect our relationship with food and eating?

12.15-13.15 Movement session: The benefits of systematic & versatile training

Henrik Burman & Asla Jääskeläinen

Henrik and Asla are former dancers of The Finnish National Ballet. They both had a long career as dancers. They are both currently working with young and adolescent dancers and athletes. Henrik works as a physical trainer at The Finnis National Opera ballet School and Asla with athletes at the Metropolitan Sports Academy, Urhea in Helsinki.

Abstract: 

What are the possibilities to train young and mature dancers through versatile training? How to improve dancing and the qualities of a dancer with functional training? Through versatile training and making the other muscles work we can avoid issues caused by overuse. What is the purpose of a warm up? Why and how should it be done?

14:15-15.15 Stress injuries of the growing dancer

Riina Komonen

MD, specializing in Sports Medicine, Master of Health Sciences, International Health, Pilates instructor.

Reetta Rönkkö

MD, specializing in emergency medicine, MA Dance kinesiology, MA Dance Performance, Pilates instructor.

Abstract:

Stress injuries in growing, young dancers are rather common. Many young dancers in their teens and pre-teens have already developed a steady mindset toward hard and goal-oriented training. The training hours per week often exceed the tolerable level of stress on growth plates and apophysis areas. Intense training combined with anatomically compromising ballet/dance technique may predispose young dancers to these injuries. On the other hand, recovery demands rest, patience, progressive, focused rehabilitation and understanding the background for these injuries.

This lecture discusses the basic anatomy of the growing body, especially big joints, and common stress injuries a growing dancer may face. The focus of this lecture is on structures and injuries occurring uniquely to the growing body and shortly acknowledges the numerous stress injuries that occur among dancers across the age span.

15:45-16:45 Panel discussion: Rethinking and Living Tradition

Maria Nurmela

Maria Nurmela has been working as a freelance dance artist since 2002 in the field of contemporary dance and performance with e.g. Tero Saarinen, Susanna Leinonen, Avidan Ben Giat. Since 2016 Maria has been increasingly creating her own works presented internationally. Maria's artistry has been recognized by numerous grants and awards such as ABOA Cultural grant from the City of Turku. In 2008 she was nominated in the Ballet/Tanz Year Book as one of the most remarkable female contemporary dancers in Europe.

Maria also teaches contemporary dance, movement and dance pedagogy, and mentors and works as an advisor in different institutions such as Theater Academy of University of Arts in Helsinki and Helsinki Summer University. Maria holds an M.A in Dance (Uniarts in Helsinki) and is currently studying to become a Feldenkrais practitioner in The Instituto Feldenkrais.

Ilkka Lampi

Ilkka Lampi is a ballet teacher who graduated from the Vaganova Academy. Ilkka has been a dancer of the Finnish National Ballet and the director and a teacher at The Finnish National Opera Ballet School. He has been working as the physical coach in the national teams with different sports.