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Pori Dance Company

PDC Pori Dance Company was founded in 1989. PDC is one of many versatile modern dance groups in Finland. The group includes 7 dancers who have gone through thorough multible training in modern dance. As the group's collective body, so to speak, functions Body in Motion Association. PDC Pori Dance Company gets support from the Finnish State's Dance Committee, the City of Pori, the Area Dance Centre in western Finland and, specified support from different foundations such as The Finnish Cultural Fund. PDC has established its place among professional dance groups in Finland and the recognition its dancers have received is due to their virtuous technique, varied repertoire and their high artistic level have been a guarantee for many years on international tours. In 2009 PDC had 7 premiers, 31 performances of which 5 were overseas reaching nearly 20 000 spectators. PDC Pori Dance Company has taken part in many festivals in Europe, United States of America and Asia. The following well known choreographers have worked with the group. They are: Jorma Uotinen, Tero Saarinen, Tommi Kitti, Marjo Kuusela, Pattie Obey, Frank Chaves, Liisa Nojonen, Jouka Valkama, Ray Tadio and Gus Giordano. The group's Artistic Director, Liisa Nojonen, has won an international award and Golden Jazzshoe in Chicago in 1992. She has also been awarded with a Finland´s The Art of Dance State Award in 2006. The cooperation with different festival organizations is continuous and, my cooperation with The Modern Dance Promotion of Korea and Madame Wansoon Yook has continued over ten years.

Liisa Nojonen is the founder of PDC Pori Dance Company, its Artistic Director and producer since 1989. She has made a number of choreographies, for example, to students in the art of dance, dance schools, professional dance groups, Pori City Theatre, Pori Opera, to films and TV. Liisa Nojonen has worked for many years as a dance pedagogue in her home country, Finland, in international festivals and courses, as a member of a jury in international dance competitions and in various dance planning committees. For her work in the art of dance, Liisa Nojonen, has been awarded many prizes and honours of which can be mentioned, for example, the first prize and The Golden Jazzshoe in the international choreography competition in Chicago, in 1992. In 2006, she was awarded a Finnish state award in the art of dance which was based and emphasized on her unconditional life's work as a jazz- and modern dance pedagogue. In 2009, the Minister of Culture in South Korea handed her a diploma which was granted by The Modern Dance Promotion of Korea for the period of 10 years long work in promoting dance in Seoul.