Kirsi Monni

Main teaching topics

  • History and theory of choreography
  • Choreography and composition in relation to posthumanistic problematics
  • Social choreography
  • Supervising artistic and theses processes

Teaching in the University of the Arts

  • MA in choreography, MA in Dance Performance, BA in Dance, MA in Lighting and Sound design, Theatre directing, Dramaturgy, Live art and Performance studies, MA in Dance Pedagogue, Center for Artistic Research in Performing Arts, Sibelius Academy artistic research, Fine Arts Academy, Aalto Arts, MA in Scenography, Costume design & Film
  • Free-lance teaching 1981- 2008 mainly in Theatre Academy, but also in other colleges, universities, and in professional field

Research

Kirsi Monni’s research is focused on the history and theory of choreography from an ontological and art philosphical perspectives. 

Articles

Monni, Kirsi. 2024. “Rethinking Conceptual Parameters of Choreography (in Social Spaces)—Actualization of Intensities in Discursive Fields” Arts 13, no. 2: 59.

This article takes part in the ongoing discussion on the social and political potentialities as well as the conceptual premises of choreography and contributes to the discussion about world relations in the choreographed movement. The article focises on ontological rethinking of the basic concepts of choreography: movement, space, time and organization, with the addition of kinaesthetic fields, kinaesthetic and spatial intelligence, virtual and actual realms, striated and smooth spaces (Deleuze and Guattari) and different conceptions of time. By analyzing these concepts, the aim is to provide a view of ontologically elementary units in choreography (such as a change in space, the difference over time and space, and passage to shared actuality), with a wider understanding of the inherent social relationality in choreographed movement.

“I am the impermanence I see”. Analyzing Deborah Hay’s performance practice and reflecting its significance for the dance of the 2000-2020s.

This text is an attempt to make an ontological analysis of American choreographer Deborah Hay’s (1941-) ‘performance practice’ and to reflect its significance for the dance of the 2000-2020s. The main argument of the article is that in Hay’s dance practice the principles of idealistic aesthetics, ideal pre-images or forms, have been abandoned thoroughly; instead both the dancing and choreography emerges from the fundamentals of our bodily existence: from time and being-in-the- historical-world. With her focus on the embodied perceptual awareness of the uniqueness of the present moment, she is pointing to a possibility of both negotiating with and stepping momentarily over and out, of the conditioned historical continuums, both in choreographic language and in one’s own embodied consciousnes.

Books, open access


Education

Academic education

  • 2004, Doctor of Arts in Dance, Theatre Academy

Research topics: Ontological changes in dance art during the 20th century, post-metaphysical paradigm in dance, bodily knowledge, philosophy of existence as a thematic context (+ five full length choreographies)

  • 1995, BA in Dance, Theatre Academy
  • 1981, High School graduation 1981

Other education in dance and somatic studies

  • 1970-1978, Finnish National Opera Ballet School
  • 1979-1981, Studies in Helsinki Dance College, professional education
  • 1981-1988, Studies e.g. in Graham-technique, release-technique, contact-improvisation, tai chi, butoh
  • 1994-1999, Alexander technique, teacher Dick Gilbert.
  • 1986 – Practice of Hatha-yoga.
  • 2014, Asahi – Healt Movement Method, teacher’s diploma.

Artistic work

  • 2017, Acts and Affects, Pannuhalli, Cable factory, Zodiak – Center for New Dance.
  • 2015, Violence on Stage – Representation Laboratory, Zodiak – Z-free. with Joona Halonen, Mikko Hynninen
  • 2007, Lichtweg 2. solo revisited. Tanssi virtaa Tampereella & Tanssin aika festivals.
  • 2006, Friedenplatz – trio. Commissioned by Moving in November festival. Co-produced by Zodiak –Center for New Dance.
  • 2006, Lichtweg – solo. Commissioned by Moving in November festival. Co-produced by Zodiak – Center for New Dance.
  • 2005, Aika-kvartetto (Time Quartet). Zodiak – Center for New Dance
  • 2001, Toisia Ääniä (Other Voices). Commissioned by Helsinki City Theatre Dance Company
  • 1999, Saattamus (Movement Chanting). Zodiak- Center for New Dance.
  • 1998, Ancient Bodies. Commissioned by Helsinki City Theatre Dance Company
  • 1997, Ki-ai. Commissioned by Ateneum-hall, Finnish National Gallery
  • 1996, Ofelia. Commissioned by Helsinki Festival
  • 1996, 10.000 oliota (10.000 beings). Zodiak- Center for New Dance
  • + 20 stage choreographies between 1981-1996

Choreographies in Theatre

  • 1997, Shakespeare: Machbeth, director Gama Kinkas, Helsinki City Theatre
  • 1990, Tuija Kokkonen: Minä hysterian herra, director Pieta Koskenniemi, Kemi City Theatre

Video works

  • 1994, Video installation: A Place in a Landscape Collaboration withNukala, Kauppinen, Sormunen.  Turku Art Museum, Vaasa Art Museum, Moving in November Festival Old Student House, Helsinki.

Other

  • Festival performances abroad and Finland: Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Italy, Russia, Makedonia, Hong Kong, Helsinki Festival, Kuopio Dance and Music Festival, Tampere Theatre Festival, Pyhäjärvi Full Moon dances, Turku mini forum, Moving in November festival.
  • Work as a dancer in several choreographers’ works 1981-1993

Publications

Monography

  • 2004, Olemisen poeettinen liike. Tanssin uuden paradigman taidefilosofisia tulkintoja Martin Heideggerin ajattelun valossa sekä taiteellinen työ vuosilta 1996–1999. Teatterikorkeakoulu, Acta Scenica, Helsinki.

(The Poetic Movement of Being:  philosophical interpretations of the new paradigm of dance in the light of Martin Heidegger’s thinking and the artistic work in years 1996-1999)  Artistic research doctoral dissertation.

  • 2004, Appendix: Alexander-tekniikka ja Autenttinen liike -työskentely. Kaksi kehontietoisuuden harjoittamisen metodia. (Alexander-technique and Authentic Movement -practice. Two methods for practicing bodily knowledge.) Second printing 2012, Kinesis, Theatre Academy, Helsinki.

Articles

  • 2024, “Rethinking Conceptual Parameters of Choreography (in Social Spaces)—Actualization of Intensities in Discursive Fields” Arts 13, no. 2: 59. https://doi.org/10.3390/arts13020059
  • 2023, Articles in Kirsi Monni, Riikka Laakso, Hanna Järvinen (eds.) Dance Arts: Historical Perspectives and Contemporary Practices:  
  • 2019, “I am the impermanence I see”. Teoksessa Susan Leigh Foster (ed.): RE-Perspective Deborah Hay. Hatje Cantz & Tanz im August sekä Stockholm University of the Arts, Taideyliopiston Teatterikorkeakoulu, Berlin.
  • 2019, Taide ja taiteilija moniammatillisissa työyhteisöissä ja luottamussuhteissa. Yhdessä Kirsi Törmin kanssa. Teoksessa Kirsi Monni & Kirsi Törmi (toim): Yhteisö ja taide. Teemoja ja näkökulmia 2000-luvun taiteilijan laajentuneeseen toimintakenttään. Taideyliopiston Teatterikorkeakoulu.
  • 2018, Posthumanismin haaste koreografisessa työskentelyssä. Liitos 2/2018. Teme.
  • 2018, Situaatio, kehollisuus, kielellisyys. Merkintöjä modernin jälkeisestä koreografiasta 1980-luvulta tähän päivään. In Niko Hallikainen & Liisa Pentti (eds): Postmoderni tanssi Suomessa? Kinesis 9. Taideyliopiston Teatterikorkeakoulu: Helsinki, 2018.
  • 2017, Suurjännitelaboratorio. In Annina Vainio (ed.) Kaapeli 25. Muistikuvia ja muistelmia. Into: Helsinki.
  • 2017, Kysymys tanssin mielestä ja merkityksestä. Lectio Praecursoria. In Heidi Westerlund (ed.): Teatterin ja tanssin tutkimusta vuodesta 1995. Acta Scenica Taideyliopiston Teatterikorkeakoulu, internet publication.
  • 2016, Material Discourses in Contemporary Dance Performance. In Katya Ganyushina (ed.) Room for Contemporary Dance. http://roomfor.ru/en/kirsi-monni-lecture/ Moscow 2016. 
  • 2016, Taide, tieto ja edistys – tanssi neoliberalistisen tuottamisen kehän ja maailman kompleksisuuden välissä. In Tiedepolitiikka 2016.
  • 2015, Considering the ontological premises for “tools” in artist’s education – on poiesis and composition. In Nordic Journal of Dance. Volume 6 (2). p. 4-9. Referee article.
  • 2015, Poetics and Politics. Introduction in Kirsi Monni, Ric Allsopp (eds.) Practicing Composition: Making practice, Kinesis 6. Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts, Helsinki.
  • 2015, Composition – Relatedness and collective learning environments. With Victoria-Perez Royo. In Kirsi Monni, Ric Allsopp (eds.) Practicing Composition: Making practice, Kinesis 6. Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts, Helsinki.
  • 2012, Koreografian poliittiset ulottuvuudet. Foreword in Andre’ Lepecki: Tanssitaide ja liikkeen politiikka, Orig. Lepecki: Exhausting Dance. Translation Hanna Järvinen. Kinesis 3. Like, Helsinki.
  • 2011, 2000-luvun koreografi – taiteen moniosaaja. in Tanssintekijät 2., Hannele Jyrkkä (ed), Like, Helsinki.
  • 2008, Ecological worldview and the art of choreography. In Dance – Movement – Mobility. Conference Proceedings Nordic Forum for Dance Research.
  • 2008, About the Sense and Meaning in Dance. In Choreography as an aesthetics of Change. M. Klien, et al (eds.) Daghdha Dance Company, pp. 37-44., Limerick.
  • 2008, Artist of a week; 14 interview articles on Finnish choreographers’ work. www.zodiak.fi.
  • 2007, Tanssiesteettinen perintö ja Deborah Hayn radikaali taide. Ontologisen eron pohdintaa, in Liikkeitä näyttämöllä: Houni, Laakkonen, Reitala, Rouhiainen (eds.). Näyttämö & tutkimus 2, Teatterintutkimuksen seura, Helsinki.  (The Heritage of Dance Aesthetics and the Radical Art of Deborah Hay). Referee article.
  • 2007, Mestari tuli taloon. Deborah Hay ja pohjoinen ulottuvuus  in Zodiak Uuden tanssin tähden. Raija Ojala, Kimmo Takala (eds.). Like, Keuruu.
  • 2007, Zodiakin kolme aaltoa. 20 vuotta kollegiaalisen taideyhteisön haasteita  in Zodiak uuden tanssin tähden. Raija Ojala, Kimmo Takala (eds.). Like 2007, Keuruu.
  • 2006, About the Sense and Meaning in Dance – ontological considerations.In Finnish Dance Research at the Crossroads: practical and theoretical challenges. Aino Sarje & Päivi Pakkanen (eds.). The Arts council of Finland, Helsinki.
  • 2005, Kuka katsoo, mitä näkyy? Pohdintoja tanssiajattelun taustoista. In Tanssintekijät. Hannele Jyrkkä (ed.) LIKE, Jyväskylä.
  • 2005, Tanssi, havainto ja kehollinen ajattelu In Sidestep-festival 2005 journal. Zodiak-Center for New Dance, Helsinki.
  • 2004, Tanssin mielestä ja merkityksestä. www.liikekieli.com
  • 2002, Merkityksellinen kohtaaminenIn Teatteri ja tanssi toimintakulttuureina. Pia Houni & Pentti Paavolainen (eds.). Theatre Academy. Acta Scenica, Helsinki.
  • 1995, Avoimet mahdollisuudet. In Esiintyjä – tulkki ja tekijä. Raija Ojala (ed.) WSOY, Helsinki.
  • 1992, Tanssin eteneminen itsensä tiedostamisen tiellä. In Tanssi, liikunta & filosofia. Juha Varto (ed.). University of Tampere, Publications, Tampere.
  • 1992, Tanssin henki- tanssin taideteoreettisia tulkintoja – book review. In Liikunta ja tiede journal. Liikuntatieteellinen seura, Helsinki.

Work as responsible editor & publishing editor

  • 2021, Manna Satama: Tanssia antiikin näyttämöllä. Lukianos ja tanssin puolustus. Kinesis Teatterikorkeakoulu.
  • 2019, Kirsi Monni & Kirsi Törmi (toim): Yhteisö ja taide. Teemoja ja näkökulmia 2000-luvun taiteilijan laajentuneeseen toimintakenttään. Taideyliopiston Teatterikorkeakoulu.
  • 2018, Laura Tuorila: Paikan baletti. Kokemuksellinen liike rakennetussa ympäristössä. Kinesis teatterikorkeakoulu.
  • 2017, Joao da Silva: Reflections on Improvisation, Choreography and Risk Taking in Advanced capitalism. Kinesis 8. Theatre Academy: Helsinki.
  • 2017, Ismo-Pekka Heikinheimo: Taidesidonnaista koreografiaa museokontekstissa. Kinesis7. Teatterikorkeakoulu: Helsinki.
  • 2015, Kirsi Monni, Ric Allsopp (eds.): Practicing Composition: Making practice, Kinesis 6. Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts, Helsinki.
  • 2014, Jeroen Peeters:  Through the back. Situating vision between moving bodies. Kinesis 5. Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts, Helsinki.
  • 2014, Kai Lehikoinen: Tanssi sanoiksi. Tanssianalyysin perusteita. Kinesis 4. Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts, Helsinki.
  • 2012, Andre Lepecki: Tanssitaide ja liikkeen politiikka. Original: Exhausting Dance. Translation Hanna Järvinen. Kinesis 3. LIKE & Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts, Helsinki.
  • 2012, Susan Rethorst: A Choreographic Mind. Autobodygraphical Writings. Kinesis 2. Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts, Helsinki. 2012Kirsi Monni: Alexander-tekniikka ja Autenttinen liike -työskentely. Kaksi kehontietoisuuden harjoittamisen metodia. Kinesis 1. Teatterikorkeakoulu.
  • + Over 60 lectures lectures in universities, institutions and conferences and studia generalia events since, Finland and abroad since 1990.

Academic supervisor and examiner

  • MA theses examiner in 42 theses since 1991
  • MA artistic processes supervisor in 8-10 processes / year
  • MA degree theses supervisor in 18 theses since 1990

Artistic research doctoral degree supervisor

  • Kirsi Törmi (2010–2016)
  • Mirva Mäkinen (2011–2018)
  • Mikko Orpana (2011–2021)
  • Jana Unmüssig (2011–2018)
  • Simo Kellokumpu (2013-14)
  • Juli Reinartz (2020 -)

Other

  • Peer reviewer in academic journals (e.g.  JAR, RUUKKU, Nordic Journal for dance, VIS, Tiede & Edistys)
  • Examiner in professorship assessment, recruitment panels, research applications and doctoral education in Finland and abroad since 2009 (e.g. Aalto University, KU Leuven, Uniarts Stockholm, Den Danske Scenekunstskolen, ArtEZ Arnhem)

Academic and community service

Service at the Theatre Academy

  • 2009- Full Professor in Choreography, head of the MA programme in choreography
  • 2018-2021, Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Recruitment Council
  • 2013-2020, Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Board
  • 2010-2012, Theatre Academy Board
  • 2009-2017, Theatre Academy Research Council
  • 2009-2020, Theatre Academy Publishing Committee (chairman.2014-)
  • 2009-2013, Theatre Academy Dance Department Board of Directors
  • 2009-2012, Centre for Artistic Research Theatre Academy Board of Directors

Work in the field of art and positions of trust

  • 2020-2023, Dance House Helsinki Board
  • 2018, Dance House Helsinki consulting      
  • 2017-2018, Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Performing Arts Council (chair)
  • 2015 -2016, Arts Promotion Centre Finland, performing arts council
  • 2015-2018, Performing Arts Council’s State Prizes for Performing Arts, Ministry of Education.
  • 2009-2014, Board, Finnish Society of Aesthetics.
  • 2008, Artistic director, Zodiak – Center for New Dance.
  • 2005-2007, Artistic board of directors (chair) Zodiak – Centre for New Dance.
  • 1996–2004, Artistic committee (chair) Zodiak – Centre for New Dance.
  • 1996-2008, Board (chair 2005), Zodiak Presents.
  • 2002-2008, Artistic board of directors, Sidestep-festival.
  • 1996-2001, Artistic board of directors, Helsinki Act-festival.
  • 1986-1996, Founding member, board, artistic committee Zodiak Presents ry.
  • 1981-2008, Free-lancer artist

Prizes and grants

  • 2020, Knight, First Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
  • 2008, Five years grant from Ministry of Education.
  • 2003, Five years grant from Ministry of Education.
  • 1998, Finland State Prize for Dance Art, Ministry of Education, Dance Council.
  • 1996, Five years grant from Ministry of Education.
  • 1991, Three years grant from Ministry of Education.
  • 1990, Finland State Prize for Dance Art to Zodiak Presents association, Ministry of Education.
  • 1984-2017, Production grants for dance productions from the Dance Council, Finnish Cultural Foundation, Alfred Kordelin Foundation, Wihuri Foundation, Kone Foundation, Sam Huber Foundation.