HENNA KAIKULA
CURRICULUM VITAE
Circus Artist|Performer|Artistic Director|Producer-Organiser
Specialities as a performer:
handbalancing and contortion, acting skills, dance/choreographic work, improvisation, site-specific approach to perfomance and circus, very basic pair-acrobatics, aerial acrobatics and juggling, clown and mask work skills
EDUCATION:
2010 Bachelor of Dramatic Arts (acting and theatre making)
Completed the first year of the three-year course, University of Melbourne
2000-2003 Cirkus Cirkör’s Cirkuspiloterna, Three-year Full-time Circus Artist Education, Stockholm, Sweden
2002-2003 Stockholm Dance University 1–year part-time studies as a voluntary part of the Circus Education; modern dance, jazz & street-dance
2003-2018 Acting, Dance & Clown masterclasses, workshops and training
by Keith Johnstone, J.Ed Araiza and Ellen Lauren and SITI Company Summer Intensive, Ian Robinson/Gaga-training, Philippe Blanchard, Kajsa Giertz, Pjotr Torzawa-Giro, David Zambrano, Kitt Johnson, Nola Ray, Mick Barnfather, Nicola Humpbel, G. Hoffman Soto, Sarah Perry, Debra Leigh, Rui Horta, Anna Boulic etc.
EXCERPTS OF WORK EXPERIENCE IN THE PERFORMING ARTS 2003-2019:
CONTEMPORARY THEATRE, DANCE AND CIRCUS PRODUCTIONS
WORKING ROLE: Circus Artist/Actor/Dancer
2019 SIVUHENKILÖT ENSEMBLE – MUN SIIVET EI MAHDU KAHVIHUONEESEEN (There’s no room for my wings)
Contemporary Theatre and Circus Performance, Juhlaviikot/Helsinki Festivals, Cirko – Centre for New Circus 08-09/2019 (circus artist/actor/co-creator/producer)
2019 METSÄ – THE FOREST PROJECT
Contemporary Circus Performance that is site-specifically created to different forests. Performances at Festival des 7 Collines, Saint-Etienne, France 06/2019 (circus artist)
2019 UNIA OUNASJOEN RANNALTA – at SILENCE FESTIVAL
Improvised performances based on script first revealed in front of the audience, Srcript and direction: Taija Helminen 06/2019 (circus artist)
2018 TEATER TAPAS -EVENT at TEATERØEN
15 minutes improvised solo performances First Bones 01/2018 and Lonely Bones 10/2018
2018 OPERAATIO PAULAHARJU
Theatre performance dramatised from Samuli Paulaharju’s novels, played in wilderness areas of Finnish Lapland, Director: Juha Hurme, Pihtsusjärvi, 08/2018 (circus artist/actor)
2017 THE 24 HOUR PLAYS – Time-limited Theatre
at Pori Theatre Festivals, performer 09/2017 (circus artist/actor)
2016 – 2019 ÅBEN DANS: Tre Ben (DK),
Dance performance, Reumert-award 2017, Director: Catherine Poher, Choreographer: Thomas Eisenhardt; Roskilde and Horsens, Denmark, September 2016, European tour Jan-Feb & Oct-Nov 2017, Jan-May 2018, Oct 2018, Edinburg 05/2019 (circus artist/dancer)
2016 – 2019 SIVUHENKILÖT (Sidekicks) -contemporary circus performance,
Suomenlinna, November 2016, performances at Silence Festival in Kittilä 06/2017, Tampereen Teatterikesä -Tampere Theatre Festivals 08/2017, Lainsuojattomat Theatre Festival, Pori 09/2017, Oulu 01/2019 (circus artist/actor/co-creator/producer)
2016-2018 MYLLYTEATTERI: Kolga,
a cross-disciplinary performance, won the international Teresa Pomodoro Price 2017, Arkadia Bookstore, Helsinki, October 2016, Spazio Teatro NOH’MA, Milan May and November 2017, Teaterøen, Copenhagen and Stoa, Helsinki Nov 2018 (circus artist/performer)
2014-2015 MYLLYTEATTERI: Tapaus Gaala
director: Miira Sippola, dramaturg: Titta Halinen, premiere October 2014 in Koko Theatre, Helsinki, performances at Cricoteka Centre, Krakow, Poland 10/2015
2014-2015 KAGE Forklift (AU)
Choreography and directing by Kate Denborough, Premiere at Sydney International Festival, Australia 16th January 2014, Tours: Melbourne Arts Centre, Brisbane Powerhouse, Hoopla Festivals, Sydney. Cirko – Centre for New Circus, Helsinki 05/2015
2013-2015 NEXT ZONE; Planet Human & Shaman (DK)
Choreography by Lene Boel, Contemporary Dance performance, National Museum, Copenhagen 04-05/2013 & 04/2014, Sisimiut and Nuuk, Greenland September 2013, National Museum, Copenhagen April-May 2014, Greenland May 2015
2010-2013 STRUT&FRET; Cantina (AU)
Director: Chelsea McGuffin and the ensemble, Contemporary Circus Performance for Spiegeltent, Brisbane Festivals 09/2010; Adelaide Festivals 02-03/2011 & 02/2012 ; The Arts Centre Melbourne 03/2011; Norfolk and Norwich Festival, UK 05/2011; Darwin Festivals, Australia, Noordezone Festivals & Eindhoven Parktheatre, Netherlands, 08-09/2011; Neerpelt Festivals in Belgium 10/2011; Tollwood Festival in Germany 11-12/2011; Le Volcan, Le Havre, France 01/2012; New Zealand International Arts Festivals, Wellington 03/2012; Ibero-american Theatre Festival, Bogota, Colombia 04/2012; Southbank, London, UK 05-07/2012, Sydney Festivals, Australia 01/2013
2008-09 UNITED SNAKES; Personal Matters (FIN)
Choreography Arja Tiili, Street Dance & Contemporary Circus Performance, URB-Festival, Kiasma Theatre, Helsinki 08/2008, Kuopio Dance Festival, Finland 06/2009
2007-09 & 2013 KREPSKO THEATRE: Alma & Amanda (CZE)
Physical Theatre and Contemporary Circus Performance, NoD, Prague 10/2007, 02/2008& 05/2009, Pardubice & Olomouc 05/2008, Letni Letna Festivals, Prague 08/2008, Cirko – Centre for Contemporary Circus, Helsinki, October 2013, The Place, London, Nov 2013
2006 NATIONAL THEATRE OF FINLAND: Children of Paradise
Director: Arto af Hällström, Helsinki
2004-05 CIRKUS CIRKÖR: 99% Unknown (SWE)
Contemporary Circus Performance, Director: Tilde Björfors, Choreography: Kajsa Giertz, European & Asian tour and 1,5 month season at Dansens Hus, Stockholm
CONTEMPORARY CIRCUS PRODUCTIONS WITH OWN COMPANIES
WORKING ROLE: organiser, producer and performer
2016-19 SIVUHENKILÖT (SIDEKICKS)
Circus and Theatre performance (see above)
2016-18 MUMMOT & MONITAIDEYHDISTYS PISTE: Toripura
a theatre, circus and music piece for outdoor events specifically in Finnish Lapland: tour around Lapland July 2017, tour in the summer 2018
2013-15 KOSKI (ITA)
Cross-disciplinary performance collaboration (dancer Julian Renlong Wong, visual artist Sandro del Pistoia, circus artist Henna Kaikula, composers Guy Dowsett & Jacob Cartwright) Bagni di Lucca Arts Festivals, Italy, Aug-Sept ’13, Residency at Nena Art Centre, Chiang Mai, Thailand, March 2014, Performances at Cartasia Art Festivals, Lucca, Italy, July 2014, Saari Residence, Mietoinen, Finland 07/2015
2008-09 MedAndraOrd; Helmi- Around the Bends
a solo performance, Inteatro, Polverigi, Italy 11/2008, Korjaamo Theatre, Helsinki 06/2009, excerpts of Helmi at Melbourne Arts Centre 02/2009
2008 MedAndraOrd; Kurja Joukko
Director: Alma Lehmuskallio, Contemporary Circus Performance exploring text and voice work with circus techniques, Korjaamo, Helsinki
2007 MusiMusi ry: Sirkusmaratoni – circus festival, Kokoteatteri, Helsinki
2007 MedAndraOrd; Reverie
Contemporary Circus Performance, Dir: Tiina Puumalainen, Aleksanteri Theatre, Helsinki 01/2007, Jyväskylän Kesä Festivals 2007
2006 MusiMusi ry: En-tä-nyt
Circus Performance, Ensemble work, Peacock-theatre, Helsinki
2003-04 MedAndraOrd: Bubbling Under
Director: John Paul Zaccarini, Contemporary Circus Performance, Alby Fejmare-stage 10/2003 and Ytterjärna Teater 02/2004 Sweden, Jojo- Contemporary Dance Centre 03/2004 and Kiasma Theatre 05/2004 Finland
OTHER PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE:
Performed and co-created various family shows and shows for children, extracts:
2016-18 •Åben Dans; Te Ben, tours in 2016-17 in Denmark, Sweden, Belgium and France
2015 •Clowns without Borders, Performance and Teaching Tour, East Ukraine
2015 •Clowns without Borders, Performance Tour in schools and refugee areas, Lebanon
2013 •Clowns Without Borders, Performance Tour in Girl Schools in Nablus, Palestine
2010 •TOY TOY Story -Circus and Music Performance for children in Penang and Singapore
2011 •Topsy, Turvy Tales – Circus and Music performance for children, Pinocchio, Perth
1999, 2002, 2003, 2005 • Dancetheatre Hurjaruuth: Talvisirkus Sirius, Circus and Dance Performance for children, Director: Arja Pettersson, Choreography. Arja Tiili, 72 Performances for Children and Families, Helsinki 11/2003-01/2004. Various other shorter productions with the company.
CABARET, SIDESHOW and VARIETÈ, extracts:
2011-2012 •Psycho Sideshow, Royale Sydney Festivals 2011 and Woodford Folk Festivals 2012
2009-2010 •Cirque Fantastique, Silja Line Cruiseship
2008 •Variete Royale with Johan Welton, Södra Teatern Stockholm, Malmö, Gärna, Sweden
2007-08 •Wintergarten Variete in Berlin
TV, FILM AND VIDEO:
2017 Restricted Portraits -video installation, 3.0, Galleria Huvila, Helsinki
2015 Restricted Portraits 1.0, video installation, Open Day of Saari Residence, Finland
2014 Dancer in a shortfilm Fall Out by Marcantonio Lunardi
2010 Shortfilm Annika, name role, director: Mel Miskel, Melbourne
2002-2009 Live and recorded TV performances in Czech republic, Finland, Taiwan, Japan, Sweden, Norway and Hong Kong, Nobel Gala ’02, Finland-Sweden Gala ’09 and Sports Gala Sweden ’03
2006 Main character in one of Tarinatalo’s shortfilms for Eurovision Song Contest, Finland
OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE:
Artistic Director of Silence Festival 2017-2019
Curator of Seasons of Silence -Concert & Performance series, for Särestöniemi Museum 2018-2020
Concept design (in a group) and development of Silence Residency 2017-18
Producer/co-producer and organiser:
-Sivuhenkilöt, contemporary circus and theatre ensemble
-Mummot: Toripura -theatre and circus performance
-Restricted Portraits, video portrait collaboration
-MedAndraOrd contemporary circus & performance art group 2003-2009
–MusiMusi Collective’s En-tä-nyt? -performance 2016 and Sirkusmaratoni-festival 2017
Director’s assistant in Myllyteatteri’s Tapaus Gaala, directed by Miira Sippola 08-11/2014
Director’s assistant at Medeastories, directed by J.Ed Araiza, for the 5th year students at Theatre University of Finland 08-09/2015
Directed a circus and community art performance project with Pia Bartch for Laitilan Nuorisoverstas (unemployed young people). Performance in Saari Open Day 05/2015
In addition to above productions, many more productions and various one off – performances around the world at festivals, happenings, gala shows
and corporate events as a solo performances as well as collaborations with other circus artists, dancers, actors and musicians 2001-2015
Worked as a circus teacher in Salpaus Circus School in Finland and taught also in Sweden, Iceland, Czech Republic, Australia, Palestine, Denmark, Lebanon, Ukraine and Spain 2003-2015
Member of regime at Finlands Dance Association 2007-2009
Henna 