Auri Ahola

Auri Ahola has a versatile career in Finland and abroad, having performed in dozens of works from classical ballet to contemporary dance and interdisciplinary creations. Ahola graduated from the Ballet School of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet in 2004 and began her career at the company the same year. She danced with the Finnish National Ballet until 2014, performing in the works of Ohad Naharin, Tero Saarinen and Jiří Kylián, among many others. Since then, Ahola has danced freelance with e.g. Raekallio Corp., Helsinki Dance Company, Compañía Kaari & Roni Martin and Pori Dance Company.

Ahola lives in Inari and creates her own works in Lapland and Sámiland outside traditional theatres. Ahola’s work combines elements of Sámi culture with contemporary dance. Jotteeh (2017) was performed under the open winter sky of Inari and the immersive Viehâ (2022) will premiere at Rovaniemi Art Museum. Ahola has also choreographed several chamber music works, e.g. a duet, Étude 3, (by Nico Muhly) for the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra in 2020. In 2021 she made her debut as choreographer of an orchestral work and performed in the premiere of composer Eero Hämeenniemi’s Clarinet Concerto. Ahola has earned grants from the Finnish Cultural Foundation, Kone Foundation, Arts Promotion Centre Finland and the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation.

In 2012 Ahola danced the lead role in Saarinen’s choreography Mariage  at the Finnish National Ballet, beginning her collaboration with the company. Since then she has been a visiting dancer at Tero Saarinen Company and has danced in the casts of Gaspard, MESH and Zimmermann Trio. In 2022 Ahola interpreted Saarinen’s iconic solo HUNT, as the work was performed for the first time by two new dancers: Auri Ahola and Atte Kilpinen in Tanssin talo’s Erkko Hall.