"Without dance I wouldn't be alive"

- Dancing is wonderful and great! It makes you feel alive! For a moment, you get into another world and forget your troubles.

Osmo Kaikuvuo describes the importance of dance for him in words that even seem dramatic, but the stages of his community dance career have been dramatic as well. Kaikuvuo started dancing after being lured by his wife, who had Parkinson's disease, and after she died two years ago he decided to continue.

- Without dance, I wouldn't be alive, says Kaikuvuo.

Initially, Kaikuvuo was sceptical about the whole idea of dancing. But his wife convinced him, and today he is involved in three community dance groups for amateurs, as well as attending dance performances.

- But not partner dancing, he laughs.

You can dance even in a wheelchair

Community dance is a dance form brought to Tampere by dance teacher Marjo Hämäläinen. In it, dancers perform movements under the guidance of an instructor, but according to their own feelings. The director listens to the desires and feelings of the group. Sometimes there is also an accompanist.

- In community dance, everyone knows how to dance, Kaikuvuo sums up.

In the Freespace group for people over 60, no prior knowledge or flexibility is expected. In the Parkinson's group, some dancers are wheelchair-bound because of their illness.

- You can dance sitting, standing or lying down.  In community dancing you use your head, Kaikuvuo explains.

He has also performed with his groups for the public at various events, and sometimes also spectators are involved.

Grants allow for reasonable pricing

Pirkanmaan Tanssin Keskus is a regional dance centre with over a hundred dance professionals as members. It develops the art of dance and produces dance performances, as well as cultural well-being services, for example for the elderly and people with mental health problems.

Last year, the performances had 15 000 spectators and the cultural wellbeing and public relations work had 8 000 participants.

The city's general grant for the cultural and artistic communities allotted to the Tanssin Keskus  also allows for low ticket prices and sometimes even free performances. Tickets for dance performances cost between €10 and €20, while participation in an amateur dance group costs €8 per session. There are also pay-what-you-can activities.