The Regional Dance Centre of Western Finland

The Dance Ambassadors is dance-based service concept invented by Regional Dance Centre of Western Finland (hereafter the LTA). The concept is nationally known, and the Finnish term Tanssikummi® was registered as a trademark in Finland in 2018. In practical terms, the work involves long-term residencies to engage people in dance in range of contexts. The dance artists at the LTA have a high level of bodily expertise, and they have developed several dance-based concepts, Dance Ambassadors being the most notable one. This concept was initially designed for elderly care and hospitals and they have since expanded the concept to cover day care centres, schools and other institutions, and they collaborate with NGOs in the social welfare and health care sector. The Dance Ambassadors have also produced content for research projects such as the ArtsEqual project at the University of the Arts Helsinki.