Bio
Minna Tikkanen
I am a director, choreographer and circus artist, as well as a master’s student in Dance Movement Therapy.
I am a director, choreographer and circus artist working freelance in the performing arts in Finland and Spain. I am currently based in Catalonia.
Biography
I am a director, choreographer and circus artist. My work brings together contemporary circus, contemporary dance, movement-based dramaturgy, improvisation and object theatre. The central tools of my artistic work are the cyr wheel, contact work, partner and group acrobatics, and puppet building and manipulation.
I graduated from the Circus Arts programme at Turku Arts Academy with a focus on cyr wheel, contemporary dance and partner acrobatics. I completed an exchange at Institut del Teatre in Barcelona, studying dance interpretation and choreography, and I am now continuing my studies in the master’s programme in Dance Movement Therapy at the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
As a director and choreographer my aesthetic is minimalist and rooted in the visual language of contemporary circus. I often approach creation through imagery and poetry, and my working method is strongly grounded in improvisation. I also perform, both in my own works and in other artists’ productions.
My current artistic research focuses on movement improvisation as a source of dramaturgy, and on embodied observation and group processes within the framework of dance movement therapy. Alongside my artistic work I have taught circus, dance and movement for more than ten years, in Finland and internationally.
I am a founding member and board secretary of two performing arts associations in Finland, Teatteri Sujo and Cirque Bono. At Teatteri Sujo I started the theatre’s artist residency programme, and I am responsible for it. I work in Finnish, English and Spanish.
Where I have worked
Choose a place on the map or from the list.
- 7 places
- 4 countries
- 26 100 km travelled
Turku Arts AcademyTurku, Finland · 2020–2024
Turku Arts Academy is the arts unit of Turku University of Applied Sciences, where students train in fields such as circus, dance, theatre and music.
I graduated from the circus programme in 2024, with the cyr wheel, contemporary dance and partner acrobatics as my main disciplines. My artistic thesis Be Echo of Mine premiered at the Sigyn hall, and ANUBIS was created during my studies. In Turku I also performed in Niin minäkin sinua at the Turku Main Library.
Teatteri SujoPörsänmäki, Iisalmi, Finland · 2022–
Teatteri Sujo is a theatre built by volunteers in an old barn in the village of Pörsänmäki in Upper Savo. It produces its own performances for the barn stage and for tours around the region, and invites artists to residencies.
I am a founding member and board secretary of the association. I started Teatteri Sujo’s artist residency programme and I am responsible for it. My dance piece Laulu väelle Vellamon opened the programme in 2023, and Cirque Bono’s Make Orwell Great Again was the residency production of 2025. I have also acted in Home Sweet Pörsänmäki and designed the lighting for Rakas setä.
BarcelonaCatalonia, Spain · 2023–
The Institut del Teatre, founded in 1913, is Barcelona’s public school of theatre and dance. The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona is a public university on the outskirts of the city.
I studied dance interpretation and choreography at the Institut del Teatre on exchange in spring 2023. In 2025 I worked as producer and artistic collaborator for Companyia Jordi Bertran, and I am now doing my master’s in Dance Movement Therapy at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. In autumn 2026 I work in audience services for Cirque du Soleil’s KURIOS in Barcelona.
Phare Ponleu SelpakBattambang, Cambodia · 2024
Phare Ponleu Selpak is a non-profit arts school in Battambang, founded in 1994 by young Cambodians returning from refugee camps. It offers children and young people education in the visual and performing arts, including a circus school, and its professional circus performs in Siem Reap.
In January and February 2024 I taught the students of the circus school as a guest circus teacher, as part of international cooperation.
Tampere Film FestivalTampere, Finland · 2024
Tampere Film Festival is an international short film festival held in Tampere every March.
Topi Raulo’s short film Suonsilmä, in which I dance the role of the servant, premiered at the festival in 2024.
Turbul’ en ChapNîmes, France · 2024
Turbul’ en Chap is a summer circus festival in Nîmes, organised by the Turbul’ circus school. It offers free workshops and free performances in the city’s Pissevin neighbourhood.
In July 2024 I performed my cyr wheel solo Memento Mori at the festival and taught workshops for its audiences and participants.
WorksMemento Mori
CirkoHelsinki, Finland · 2024–2025
Cirko is Helsinki’s centre for contemporary circus. It presents performances and hosts residencies for circus artists.
Make Orwell Great Again took shape during a residency at Cirko before its premiere at Teatteri Sujo. Akin (klovni ja nukke), where I worked as choreographer and puppet manipulator, also had a residency there.
Education
- 2025–2027
Master’s in Dance Movement Therapy (in progress)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
- Movement, embodied observation, group processes and therapeutic work.
- 2024
Bachelor of Culture and Arts, Circus (240 ECTS)
Turku University of Applied Sciences, Arts Academy
- Main disciplines: cyr wheel, contemporary dance and partner acrobatics.
- Exchange at Institut del Teatre, Barcelona, in the dance programme for choreography and interpretation, Jan–Jun 2023.
- Artistic thesis: Be Echo of Mine.
- Written thesis: Circus Artist in the World of Poetry, on movement improvisation as a source of dramaturgy in contemporary circus.
- 2014
Vocational qualification in youth and leisure instruction
Haapavesi College
Further training
- 2017
Theatre programme, 60 ECTS, Jyväskylä Christian Folk High School
- 2016
Basic studies in theatre pedagogy, 25 ECTS
- 2016
Basic studies in education, 25 ECTS
- 2011
Swimming instructor training, Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation
- 2011
SUH swimming assistant training
Own works & productions
- 2024
Be Echo of Mine
An ensemble contemporary circus and movement improvisation piece that I directed, choreographed and performed in.
- 2023
Laulu väelle Vellamon
A contemporary dance piece at Teatteri Sujo that I directed, choreographed and performed in.
- 2023
Wake Me Up
Puppet solo at the Torakka evening, where I worked as the puppet manipulator.
- 2021–
Memento Mori
A cyr wheel solo for which I created the direction, choreography and dramaturgy, and which I also perform. It has been performed in Finland, Spain and France.
- 2022
Pörsänmäen keskitalven tanssit
A performing arts event that I produced, organised and performed in.
Selected artistic & performance work
- 2026
KURIOS, Cirque du Soleil, Barcelona
Audience services (upcoming, Sep–Oct 2026): welcoming and guiding audiences and assisting spectators in the show’s participatory section.
- 2025
Make Orwell Great Again, Cirque Bono
Choreographer, producer and circus artist. Direction: Jeannette Rönkkö. Choreographic and artistic work and overall production responsibility, including budget, funding and partnerships.
- 2025
Companyia Jordi Bertran, Barcelona
Producer and artistic collaborator (Mar–May 2025).
- 2024
Akin (klovni ja nukke)
Choreographer and puppet manipulator. Direction: Linda Ylisirkka. Contemporary circus combining clowning, puppetry and object theatre; residencies at Cirko and Salpaus.
- 2024
Niin minäkin sinua, Cirque Bono / Suvi Suloinen
Performer, Turku Main Library.
- 2024
Suonsilmä, short film
Dancer (the servant). Direction: Topi Raulo. The film premiered at Tampere Film Festival.
- 2023
Rakas setä, Teatteri Sujo
Lighting designer. Direction: Topi Marin.
- 2022
Home Sweet Pörsänmäki, Teatteri Sujo
Actor. Direction: Topi Marin.
- 2021–2022
PRINSSI, street theatre
The Prince. Direction: Tella Vahala.
- 2021
Identiteettivarkaus, Barker Theatre / Runoviikko
Actor, reciter and juggler.
Positions of trust
- 2025–
Cirque Bono ry
Founding member and board secretary; website management (cirquebono.com).
- 2023–
Teatteri Sujo ry
Founding member and board secretary. I started Teatteri Sujo’s artist residency programme and I am responsible for it; website management (sujoteatteri.com).
Grants & recognition
- 2025
Niilo Helander Foundation
Grant for artistic work on Make Orwell Great Again (lead applicant).
- 2023
Ylä-Savo Foundation
Grant for Laulu väelle Vellamon (lead applicant).
- 2023
City of Iisalmi
Grant for Laulu väelle Vellamon (lead applicant).
- 2022
Ylä-Savo Foundation
Grant for the Pörsänmäen keskitalven tanssit event (lead applicant).
- 2021
Minela Foundation
Grant for artistic research and workshops on the cyr wheel (lead applicant).
Carl Aminoff Foundation scholarship
Recognition for success in circus studies at Turku Arts Academy.
Teaching
- 2024
Turbul’ en Chap circus festival, France
Circus artist and teacher, leading workshops for festival audiences and participants.
- 2024
Phare Ponleu Selpak, Cambodia
Guest circus teacher (Jan–Feb 2024). I led teaching periods for circus school students as part of international arts education cooperation.
- 2016–2024
Liikuntaseura Ote
Guest circus and dance teacher for circus and dance groups of all ages and levels.
- 2014–2024
Parkour Oppimiskeskus ry
Parkour teacher and administrator, responsible for weekly classes and the administration of teaching activities.
- 2011–2018
Jyväskylän Naisvoimistelijat
Children’s and family movement instructor for early childhood and family groups.
Publication
- 2024
Circus Artist in the World of Poetry
Tikkanen, M. Sirkustaiteilija runouden maailmassa: liikeimprovisaatio dramaturgian lähteenä nykysirkuksessa. Bachelor’s thesis, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Arts Academy.
Languages
- Finnish
- native
- English
- C2
- Spanish
- B2
- Swedish
- basic
- Catalan
- basic
References available on request.