Words with Isadora

Words with Isadora

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Dance artist Jonna Aaltonen celebrates her 30-year career in 2025 with a new solo work, Words with Isadora. The piece is choreographed and directed by her long-time collaborator Marjaterttu Willman. The premiere will take place at WAM Kilta Gallery in Turku, in collaboration with the Regional Dance Centre of Western Finland, Tanssin Voima ry, and WAM – Turku City Art Museum’s Kilta Gallery.

At the heart of the work lies a question about the artist’s journey of expression over a long career. A 2020s performing artist reflects on the meaning of movement and the freedom of expression in contemporary dance, seeking connections with the ideas of early 20th-century dance reformer Isadora Duncan. What would Duncan say about today’s trends? How does aging influence artistic identity?

The theme of the performance is the connection between emotion and movement. This theme is explored through a dialogue with Isadora Duncan. The piece also interacts with Fanny Varjo’s exhibition, creating a dialogue between dance and visual art.

‍PERFORMANCES

‍Thu 6 Nov at 17:00
Fri 7 Nov at 17:00
Sat 8 Nov at 16:00 (followed by an audience discussion)
Sun 9 Nov at 16:00 (followed by an audience discussion)

‍Venue: WAM Kilta Gallery, Turku
Admission: Free!
Seat reservation recommended – book your place in advance.

The performance text is in English (Finnish translation available in the program).
Read the Turun Sanomat interview / 29 Oct 2025:

Lue Turun Sanomien haastattelu / 29.10.2025

Background

The performance explores the relationship between emotion and movement through a dialogue with Isadora Duncan. Duncan was a pioneer of modern dance in the early 20th century whose life’s work profoundly influenced the later development of modern dance. Her dancing was based more on emotion than intellect—she “felt the music with her soul” and sought the source, the central force, from which the movement of the spirit could best be reflected.

In this dialogue—woven of movement and text—between the performer and Duncan, the connection between movement and emotion is processed. The 2020s performer contemplates the meaning of movement and expressive freedom in contemporary dance, seeking links to Duncan’s ideas from a century ago and wondering what she might say about today’s dance trends.

Words with Isadora is performed in a gallery space, allowing a multidimensional encounter between art forms: dance enables a new, unexpected experience of visual art, while visual art enriches the dance piece with its own surprising perspectives. At WAM Kilta Gallery, the work enters into dialogue with visual artist Fanny Varjo’s exhibition “Tasters, Knights and Gardeners.”

Jonna Aaltonen

Dance artist Jonna Aaltonen celebrates her 30th anniversary as an artist in 2025. Aaltonen has worked as a dance artist for three decades, the last 18 years as a freelancer. This long and rare career, and its continuation, represent sustainable dance artistry in itself.

To mark this milestone, Aaltonen has invited Marjaterttu Willman to choreograph a solo work with her. The two have a long-standing collaboration—Aaltonen has danced in nine of Willman’s choreographed works since 2012.

Artistic Team

Concept & Direction: Marjaterttu Willman
Choreography: Marjaterttu Willman in collaboration with Jonna Aaltonen
Dancer/Performer: Jonna Aaltonen
Sound Design: Mikko Väärälä
Costume Design: Aapo Siikala
Music: Sarah Neufeld
Texts: Isadora Duncan (My Life), Peter Kurth (Isadora: A Sensational Life)
Photographs: Mirka Kleemola
Premiere: 6 November 2025, Turku
Duration: 50 minutes

Words with Isadora premieres at WAM Kilta Gallery and is produced in collaboration with the Regional Dance Centre of Western Finland, Tanssin Voima ry / Willman Dance Company, and WAM Kilta Gallery.
Supported by the Samuel Huber Art Foundation.

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