Jazz collective

Jazz collective aims to explore the world of dance through collaboration and interaction between teachers and dancers. Dancers are also given the opportunity to challenge themselves by creating their own material. In addition, the collective provides a much-needed platform for adult dancers to perform—the group consists of students with varying levels of prior dance experience. The chance to create art within a close-knit community motivates dancers to continue their practice, regardless of their background or age.

Jazz collective offers an alternative to the fast-paced competition culture. It follows the same ideology as the professional dance field: working together to find harmony within the group and to develop a shared movement language. The performance is created in a collective spirit, drawing from Wilma-Emilia Kuosa’s repertoire and original material developed by the group. Every member of the collective participates in the creation process—by generating their own movement material and by working in small groups to build scenes that support the shared movement vocabulary of the piece.

The collective welcomes dancers aged 18–52. There are no entrance auditions—just an open trial class held at the start of the fall and spring terms. The spirit of the collective emphasizes functioning as a dance community, and recognizing each individual’s strengths, for example in costume design or marketing of performances. Warm welcome to join our passionate dance community in its fourth season!

Dancers should have at least intermediate 1-level experience in jazz dance, contemporary dance, show dance, or ballet. In addition to Jazz collective rehearsals, each participant must take at least one weekly class from the dance school’s schedule.

During season 2025–26 Jazz collective rehearses on Thursdays and Sundays. A detailed schedule is available here.

This fall, Jazz collective will prepare a choreography for SYK Christmas performances , and each spring the group will produce a 20-minute performance.

Open trial class on Thursday, August 21

Come and explore what the Jazz collective is all about at a free open trial class on Thursday, August 21, from 19:45 to 21:15 in the Leipätehdas studio LEI1. Please ask for the door code in advance.