CV
Minja Maria Mertanen Curriculum Vitae 12.7.2026
+358413139131
EDUCATION
2026- Master in Dance Pedagogy, Theater Academy University, TEAK, Helsinki
2024 Choreography studies, University of the Arts Helsinki Open University
2024 Somatic Movement Therapist Training (ISMETA)
2019-2020 Studies for Specializing at Psychotherapy, Helsinki Open University
2019 Yoga4kids Yoga Teacher Education, Ibiza, Espanja
2017 Yoga Teacher Education RYS 200, Yoga Nordic, Helsinki
2011 Dance and Movement Therapist, Jyväskylä University of Applied Science/Eino Roiha Institut
2006 Dance Teacher Education, Savonia University of Applied Sciences
2006 Teacher, Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences
2000 Matriculation Examination, Kuopio Music High School Dance Education, Kuopio
LATEST ARTISTIC WORK
2026 “Luvia” Cascadian Butoh Confluence, Theatro de la Psychomachia, Seattle, USA
“Luvia” Northwest Butoh Festival, Portland, USA “DanceWriteNow” a performance concept
combining dance and writing designed by Giorgio Convertito, Forum Box, Helsinki
“Withering and Death” choreographer, a group butoh work produced by Höyhentämö,
Harju Morgue as part of the Roomies event organized by Forum Box, Helsinki
“Radio Silence” demo of a sound-dance-video project of Artem Trofimenko, performed also
with Emilia Liimatainen, Äänen lumo, Toinen kerros, Helsinki
“DanceWriteNow” a performance concept combining dance and writing designed by Giorgio
Convertito, Harju Morgue as part of the Roomies event organized by Forum Box, Helsinki
2025 “Kiputiloissa” choreographed by Terhi Vaimala, Äänen lumo, Toinen kerros, Helsinki
“Withering and Death” choreographer, a group butoh work produced by Höyhentämö,
PerformanceSirkus, Helsinki
“Growth and Blooming, 1’st part, Be(a)ware Butoh Festival opening piece, Kellariteatteri.
”Tabula Rasa” Venus Maskworks performance, Universum.
“Tato tatoe” Why Butoh Festival, Barker Theatre, Turku
“Tato tatoe” Decaying Space Project, Laila Pullinen Sculpture Park, Vantaa
“Bones, Spirals and Porous Forces” dance art Hetki Festival performance for professionals
choreographed by Minja Mertanen, Ervi Siren and Georgie Goater, Maunula House
“Tato tatoe” Portland Butoh Festival, USA
2024 “Luvia” Butoh Festival opening performance with solo musician Tatu Rönkö,
Kellariteatteri
“Kesken-prototype 1: Inexplicable presence” Höyhentämö performance, Valssaamo,
Kaapelitehdas “Valaistumiskone” Muu-Galleria, Kaapelitehdas
“Matsuri” Butoh performance choreographed by Yumiko Yoshioka and Natsuko Kono, BIG
Festival, Schloss Bröllin, Germany
“Tato, tatoe” butoh trio, BIG Festival, Schloss Bröllin, Germany
“Hunters-gatherers” Höyhentämö site-specific performance, Arabianranta's abandoned land,
Helsinki
2023 "Kierto" Ismo-Pekka Heikinheimo choreography at the Arts Promotion Centre's art
recognition gala, Dance Hall, Helsinki
Land of Harmony, butoh duet with Josephine Grundy, Helsinki Butoh Festival, Kellariteatteri
Hunters-gatherers, Höyhentämö site-specific performance, Arabianranta's abandoned land,
Helsinki
“Growth and Flourishing” buto dance solo produced by Höyhentämö and Jyväskylän Kesä
Performance Circus, Helsinki “Growth and Flourishing” buto dance solo, Villa Rana,
Jyväskylän
Kesä "Kierto" choreography by Ismo-Pekka Heikinheimo Dance Theatre, Helsinki
2022 “Ratones Colorados o Broken Voices” Ibiza Biotechnologico, Ibiza, Spain
“Wolf Safari” Fierce Festival, Birmingham, England
“Land of Harmony” Butoh duet, Nau Bostic, Barcelona, Spain
“Collection of Imaginary Beings” Hangö Teaterträff, Hanko
“Sonic Hedgehog” Butoh duet with Helena Romppanen, Helsinki Butoh Festival
“Tato, Tatoe” opening solo performance at Helsinki Butoh Festival
“Land of Harmony”, butoh duet with Josephine Grundy, Can Batllo, Barcelona, Spain
“Ratones Colorados o Broken Voices”, butoh duet with Rocio Wabiza, Vivero en Santa Eularia
de Rio, Ibiza, Spain
“Not Going back to Normal” Bluckhouse, Tiivistämö, Helsinki
“Kierto” butoh dancer in Modern dance choreography, Barker Theater, Turku
2021 “Collection of Imaginary Beings”, Kampnagel, Kunsthalle, Hamburg “Kaipuu”
performance “Just a Gardener” first part Ekata Theatrer Blendi festival
“And I Followed” Butoh solo Jyväskylä butofestival, Jyväskylä
“And I Followed” Project Ibiza, Ibiza, Spain
“And I Followed” Sala de Sants, Barcelona, Spain
“Kaipuu” perforamance “Just a Gardener” first part Galleria Kasvihuone, Helsinki
“Cry me a River” Outside Eye and Butoh Direction for Circus performance directed by Sanja
Kososen, Cherbourg, France
2020 “And I Followed” Opening butoh solo for Helsingin butofestival, Oranssi, Helsinki
Toisten Tilojen “Collection for Imaginary Beings”, Tehdas Theater, Turku
“Sacred place”, butoh performance choreographed by Vangeline, directed by Anna-Mari
Laulumaa, Jyväskylän Kesä festival
Other Spaces Humanoid Hypothesis workshop, Jyväskylä art museum
2019 ”The Soul of the Earth” eXit’19 butoh Choreography by Seisaku and Rianto, Shloss
Broellin, Germany
”We Rise at Eight” butoh choreography and direction for video art production by Jenni
Kokkomäki
2018 Wolf Safari Brighton Fringe. Brighton, England.
Humanoidhypothesis, Brighton Fringe. Brighton, England.
2017 “Reindeer Safari” performance by Other Spaces, Milan, Italy
“Wolf Safari” performance by Other Spaces, Cultural Capital of Europe, Aarhus and
Copenhagen, Denmark
“Wolf Safari” performance by Other Spaces, Access Point Festival, St.Petersburg, Russia
2016 ”Alien Art” performance by Other Spaces at Kiasma, Helsinki
“Wandering performance by Other Spaces at ANTI Festival, Tahko
2015 “Avalokitesvara” performance by Other Spaces, Baltic Circle festival, Helsinki
“WooM” dance performance by AndWhatBeside(s)Death, Atalaia Festival, Almadovar, Portugal
“Requiem” Butoh performance by Yukio Waguri, eXit…15 festival, Schloss Bröllin, Germany
“Reindeer Safari” performance by Other Spaces, AUAWIRLEBEN festival, Bern, Switzerland
“Reindeer Safari” performance by Other Spaces, Science Festival, Edinburg, Scotland
2014 “Reindeer Safari” performance by Other Spaces, MIR-festival, Athens, Greek
“Wolf Safari” performance by Other Spaces, Nordwind: Urban Species-festival Kampnagel,
Hamburg
“Meet My Monsters” butoh solo, Höyhentämö, Helsinki
“Reindeer Safari” performance by Other Spaces, Secret Hotel, Mols, Denmark
“Reindeer Safari” performance by Other Spaces, Sant Argangelo Theatre Festival, Italy
“Mootoritie on meidän” performance by Other Spaces, Hamiina
“Reindeer Safari” performance by Other Spaces, Helsinki
2013 ”Everyday Shakes” dance and sound performance, Höyhentämö, Helsinki
”Luonnon anti” participating wandering performance, ANTI-festival, Kuopio
“Reindeer Safari” performance by Other Spaces, ANTI-festival, Kuopio
“Parking Space” performance by Other Spaces URB13-festivaali, Kiasma, Helsinki
“STOP SPOT” performance by Mehdi Farajpour, Zadar Snova festival, Zadar, Croatia
“Olives and Trees” performance by Other Spaces, Biennal Venice, Italy
“Olives and Trees” Campsirago theater festival, Italy
“Utopiakonsultaatio” Todellisuuden Tutkimuskeskuksen Osaattori experience performance to
elderly people at day care center at Puistola, Helsinki
“Porosafari” performance by Other Spaces, Secret Hotel, Aarhus and Mols, Denmark
“Operation Snow Flake” performance by Other Spaces, Töölönlahti, Helsinki
2012 “Voyage” Butoh duet, partly choreographed by Katsura Kan, Theatre Feather and Mask,
Helsinki
“Portrait of a Dancer in Solitude” choreography by Mehdi Farajpour, Titanic Gallery, Turku
2011 “eX…it’11!” performance at International Butohfestival directing Masaki Iwana ja Ken
Mai, Bröllin, Germany
“Elämyspuisto Turku” performer in program of Turku 2011 Cultural Capital City.
“Station Helsinki”, choreographer Mehdi Farajpour, Theatre Feather and Mask
“Sacred City” participatory performance, TPAM-festival, Yokohama, Japani
“I’m tight with your hair”, choreographer Mehdi Farajbour, Theatre Feather and Mask
2010 “Sacred City” site specific performance, Baltic Circle Festival
“Vietti” Physical theatre performance with a solo, Theatre Feather and Mask
“Tutkielma Danten Kiirastulesta”, bodily direction , Reality Research Centre
2009 “Pakeneva raja”, butohduet, Theatre Feather and Mask
“Luonnos tästä viereltä”, Reality Research Centre, at Picasso Exhibition, National Gallery
Ateneum, Helsinki
“Kiertymä” butohduet, Emma Modern Art Museum, Espoo
”Walking on the Water” outdoor butoh performance director Eero-Tapio Vuori,
choreographer Helena Ratinen, Kiasma, Modern Art Museum, Helsinki
”Materia” Physical theatre performance, Theatre Feather and Mask, Helsinki
2008 "Näkymättömän Valtakunta" participatory performance, Reality Research Centre, Kiasma
”Sabotanic Garden” butohperformance, director Pasi Mäkelä, Botanic Garden Kaisaniemi
L’amour Prima, director Pasi Mäkelä
butoh-impro in collaboration with band Nu Transit at Hiap Art Recidency in Cable Factory and
in Kämp
”Irtonainen” butohperformance with Heikki Mäntymaa, Forum Box, Art Gallery, Helsinki
”Luopuminen-Retret performance” ohjaajana Tuomas Laitinen ja Julius Elo Reality Research
Centre, Laajasalo, Helsinki
”Byaku-mu”, butoh choreography, directing Ken Mai, with a duet ”Onibaba”, Theatre Feather
and Mask
”lillalillan” sekä ”Sisäisiä ääniä” Sisä-Suomen Tanssinaluekeskuksen järjestämässä butoh-illassa
Hällä-näyttämöllä Tampereella, sekä Butoamme-festivaalissa Theatre Feather and Mask
2007 ”The Wall” butohtrio butohviikon yhteydessä Pietarissa ”The Place”ssa
”Hiljaisuuden politiikka” Reality Research Centre bodily installation Theater-Now festival,
Kiasma, Helsinki
”Kivi kivestä kivin” Butoh choreography for Taika-dance group for meeting of
Kehitysvammaisneuvosto City hall, Naantali
”Sabotanic Garden”, butoh choreography, Reality Research Centre, Botanical Garden,
Kaisaniemi
”Vahan tanssi” butoh duet, opening at batic exibition, Helsinki
”Turtles can fly” butoh solo final performance, Hankasalmi Butoh week
”Sisäisiä ääniä” butoh duet organized by Sisä-Suomen Tanssinaluekeskus, Glubinavetta,
Hankasalmi
”lillalillan” butohduet Faces-festival Karjaa, Theatre Gallery Turku and Univercity Theatre
Festival, Kuopio
”Toisto” improvisational duet with Anna-Maria Häkkinen, Theatregallery, Turku
”Hiljaisuuden Politiikka”, Reality Research Centre bodily installation Kamppi shopping mall
”Putoilijat” butohduet, Kuopio City Theatre, Dance gala, Kuopio
LATEST TEACHING
2026 “About the Bones” – A course combining Butoh and somatics, Cascadian Butoh Confluence, Teatro de la Psychomachia, Seattle, USA;
“About the Bones” – A course combining Butoh and somatics, Northwest Butoh Festival, Portland, USA
Our Inner Nature weekly butoh classes, Höyhentämö
a weekly course combining Somatics, meditation and butoh in collaboration with Ilmari Kortelainen, Reality Research Center
2025 butoh guidance for Venus Maskworks' performance Tabula Rasa, Universum
Our Inner Nature weekly butoh classes, Höyhentämö Somatics, a weekly course combining meditation and butoh in collaboration with Ilmari Kortelainen, Reality Research Center
Sketches from the bones - somatic butoh workshop Hetki Festival, Maunula House
Our Inner Nature Butoh Workshop at Telakka Theatre
Just a Gardener butoh workshop, Höyhentämö, Eskus
Butoh Workshop, Tanssille ry's morning classes for professionals, Leipätehdas
a weekly course combining Somatics, meditation and butoh in collaboration with Ilmari Kortelainen, Reality Research Center
2024 “Luvia-sketches from the bones” workshop combining butoh and somatics Helsinki butoh festival Butoh and tight wire dancing laboratory La Cascade, Bourg-st-Andeol, France “How to become a Potato” BIG festival, Scloss Bröllin, Germany “Our inner nature” butoh workshop Throw yourself into movement course, Zodiak A course combining somatics, meditation and butoh in collaboration with Ilmari Kortelainen, Reality Research Center
2023 Produced by Höyhentämö Growth and flourishing butoh workshop cable factory, Helsinki Growth and flourishing butoh workshop at the Helsinki butoh festival
Butoh and tight wire dancing laboratory La Hactais, Saint-Sulpice-des-Landes, France
Butoh and tight wire dancing laboratory L’Exosquelette-Le Muscardin Luc-en Diois, France Butoh workshop in Good Life Engine studies, Aalto University
2022 Butoh Workshop at ELO Documentary Filmmaker Education Aalto University, Helsinki
Butoh workshop for performance “Tuntematon Sotilas” directed by Juho Mantere at Theater Vanha Juko, Lahti
Nuestra Naturaleza Interior, Butoh Workshop at Ibiza Botanico Biotechnologico, Ibiza, Espanja
Butoh and Tight Wire Dancing Laboratory, Popcorn festival, Galapiat Cirque, Minihy-Treguier, France
Butoh directing to a performance directed by Max Bremer, The Re-invention of Self- Antifasistic Bodybuilding, Venus Maskworks, Teatteri Universum, Helsinki
“Body and Voice for Non-Violent Conflict Resolution, European Forum Albach, Austria
Butoh and tight wire dancing laboratory, Turku art academy, Turku
Butoh workshop at art School Maa
Body in art workshop at Kankaanpään art school SAMK
2021 “Audience Guidance, Agency and Bewilderment” workshop for professionals with Kate McIntosh Wiener Festwochen festival
Butoh workshop at TEAK Theater Academy for Art and Consciousness
“Our Inner Nature” butoh workshop Jyväskylä butofestival
“Our Inner Nature” butoh workshop Project Ibiza, Ibiza, Spain
Other Spaces workshop Rhizome project with HAM (Helsinki Art Museum)
2020 Butoh workshop at Theater Academy for Art and Consciousness workshop
Other Spaces workshop for Climate-KIC- organization
Other Spaces Tripit-exercise festival in Zoom
Other Spaces workshop Rhizome project with HAM (Helsinki Art Museum)
103-secrets live art workshop with Word artist and a singer for young adults with neurological difficulties
Butoh workshop, Helsinki Education Center for Adults
“Our Inner Nature” workshop with fine artist Espoo Education Center for Adults
Butoh workshop Helsinki Butoh Festival
2019 Butoh workshop Tanit Dreams festival, Ibiza, Spain
2018 Butoh workshop at TEAK Theater Academy for Art and Consciousness
2017 Avalokiteshvara workshop for professionals. Chiaravalle, Italia.
2016 Body, landscape and pixilation workshop Rio Gallego Argentina
Buto workshop at TEAK Theater Academy
2015 Butoh workshop Escola Superior de Arte Dramatica, Vigo, Spain
Butoh workshop at art residency Gibbuts Heftziba, B’nei Brak, Israeli
Other Spaces workshop in Summer Lab, at Secret Hotel, Mols, Denmark
Butoh workshop at dance therapist education at TEAK Theatre Academy of Finland
2014 Butoh workshop at TEAK Theatre Academy of Finland
Butoh workshop to professional dancers, Tanssille ry, Helsinki
2015-2011 Butoh teaching, weekly classes at Institute of Adult Education of Helsinki
2013 Secret retraining Camps by Other Spaces at Roihuvuori and Center of Performance Art
Workshop by Other Spaces at Campsirago theatre festival, Camsirago, Italy
Everyday shakes open workhops for public, Höyhentämö, Helsinki
Butoh and breathing workshop at Dance Therapy Association, Helsinki
Workshops for the project “Power of Children in Schools and Kindergardens of Helsinki Workshop by Other Spaces, Borabora dansens hus, Aarhus, Denmark
2012 Choreography for puppet artist Iida Vanttaja’s performance “Breathing” and workshops with youth and elderly people, STOA,
Workshops for the project “Power of Children” by Reality Research Centre at the schools of Helsinki Butoh workshop for professionals in dance and theatre, Theatre Feather and Mask, Helsinki
2010-2011 Dance Therapist in Integrated Group for kids with special needs, Espoo
2011 Butoh workshop University theatre, Jyväskylä
Butoh workshop and floor barre workshop dance education programme, Kälviä Weekly butoh classes Helsingin Aikuisopisto
2010 Butoh workshop for Univercity theatre, for a play 7,5 sins, Turku
Bodily direction (balett and butoh), Research about Dante, Reality Research Centre
Weekly butoh classes at Reality Research Centre
2009 Butoh workshop and floor barre workshop dance education programme, Kälviä
Butoh workshop for performance “Tuonpuoli”, University theatre, Jyväskylä
Butoh workshops for Reality Research Centers performance “Luonnos tästä viereltä”
Butoh workshops for Dance Education in Outokumpu
Workshop for youth with disabilities, Keskuspuiston Ammattiopisto, Lohja
2008 Butoh workshop and floor barre workshop dance education programme, Kälviä
Butoh workshop at Eucrea, cultural association for people with disabilities, Helsinki
Butoh workshop for Circus Uusi Maailma, Jyväskylä
2008-2009 Weekly butoh classes at Helsingin tanssiopisto
2000-2006 Ballet, improvisation and contemporary dance lessons for kids, Kuopio and Hankasalmi
2007-2008 Weekly classes of Butoh in Helsinki
2007 Butoh workshop at professional Dance and Movement Therapy training,
Butoh workshop Jyväskylä University Theater
Butoh workshop Taika dance group integrated dance group, Turku
Butoh workshop Faces Festival, Karjaa
Butoh workshop Theater Gallery,the crossing point of performance arts, Turku
Butoh workshop University Theater Festival, Kuopio and Turku
Assistent ”Terve Tanssi” Elderly people Community Dance project, Kuopio
2006 Butoh workshop, Turku
2006-2008 Dance teaching (Butoh and impro) dance community of Riitta Vainio
2005 Butoh workshop University Theater, Kuopio
Dance Classes of 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grades in Dance School
Advanced Ballet classes, Kuopio
Dance teacher of Suonenjoki Conservatoire
2004 Butoh teaching for a performance “Itu”
School dance teacher, Steiner School, Kuopio
2003 Advanced Ballet classes, Conservatoire Kuopio
Contemparory dance Conservatoire Kuopio
2002 Various groups of ballet, Conservatoire Kuopio
2002-2000 Various groups dance classes for kids, Kuopio
MEMBERSHIPS
2011- Other Spaces Live art Collective
2008- Reality Research Center and Theater Bluckhouse
POSITIONS OF TRUST
2025- Artistic Director of Be(a)ware Butoh Festival
2025 Founding member of Why Butoh Festival
2016- Member of the Board on Theater Bluckhouse
2022-2024 Artistic Director of Helsinki Butoh Festival
2016-2021 Member of the Board, Other Spaces
2018-2021 Producer of Foreign Affair, Other Spaces
LATEST PERSONAL GRANTS
2026 Main Applicant to Grant for organizing Be(a)ware Butoh festival for a working group,
€4,000, City of Helsinki
2025 Artist grant, 6 months, Taike
Grant for organizing Be(a)ware Butoh festival for a working group, €3,000, City of Helsinki
2024 Grant for artistic work for a working group, €10,000, Arts Promotion Center Finland
2024 Grant for organizing the Helsinki Butoh festival for a working group, €3,000, City of
Helsinki
2022 Grant for artistic work for a working group, Arts Promotion Center Finland
2021 Grant for artistic work, Arts Promotion Center Finland
2021 Grant for artistic work, Niilo Helander Grant
2021 Grant for artistic work, The Finnish Cultural Foundation
2021 Grant for artistic work, Arts Promotion Center Finland
2020 Grant for artistic work, Arts Promotion Center Finland
2017 Kone Grant for artistic work