About Rimpparemmi

Dance Theatre Rimpparemmi is a locally remarkable professional theatre that tours around Finland, including even the northernmost parts of Lapland. Increasing the accessibility and appreciation of dance as an art form is a substantial part of Rimpparemmi’s work.

Yearly, the ensemble produces from two to four full-length performances to audiences of varied ages. Dance Theatre Rimpparemmi does not have a stage of its own, so the productions are performed at different venues. Along with more conventional stages, Rimpparemmi has boldly created dance theatre performances for all sorts of venues, for example a nightclub.

Children’s culture and art education is an essential part of Rimpparemmi’s operations. Every year, Dance Theatre Rimpparemmi produces at least one performance and workshop for children, which are performed extensively around Lapland as well as other parts of Finland.

Rimpparemmi has a wide-ranging international career. Altogether, Rimpparemmi has performed in 32 different countries. As the culture ambassador of the Northern region, Rimpparemmi has reached tens of thousands of people with its nonverbal language of dance that is understood all over the world.

History

Rimpparemmi began operating as a professional dance theatre in 1999. Being included in the government support system under the Theatres and Orchestras Act enabled the dance theatre to work with more long-ranged plans. Since 2005, Rimpparemmi has been a member of Regional Dance Center in Northern Finland.

Folk dance ensemble Rimpparemmi was founded in municipality of Tervola in 1974 as a part of Youth Club of Tervola. At first, Rimpparemmi was a group of eight dancers, but it quickly grew into an ensemble of sixteen dancers and five musicians. The ensemble performed extensively around Finland as well as abroad.

While Rimpparemmi’s operations expanded, it moved to the city of Rovaniemi in 1986. At the same time, the backing organization, Registered Association Folk Ensemble of the Province of Lapland, was founded, with a goal to operate professionally in the future. In 1989, Rimpparemmi’s dance school was founded. In 1991, Rimpparemmi’s members were hired for the first time for full-time jobs during the summer season.

In April 2010, the backing organization’s name was officially changed to Registered Association Folk Ensemble of Lapland. The professional group was named Dance Theatre Rimpparemmi.