Jorma Uotinen is a Finnish choreographer, artistic director, dance artist, performer and singer.

 

 

Jorma Uotinen is one of the major figures in the field of performing arts in Finland. His career is vast and varied, and his impact in dance and on stage is very strong, not to forget his performances in concerts, galas and films and in television. His art is highly appreciated by the public and the critics. His choreographic work-entity consists of almost 80 creations, and on the top of this he has acted as director and/or choreographer for several musicals. He is internationally famous after working and performing in over 40 countries.

 

 

Jorma Uotinen started his career already at the age of ten in the Municipal Theatre of his native town, Pori. As a dancer, he got his first contract at the age of 20 at the Finnish National Ballet.

 

 

In 1976, the world-renowned choreographer Carolyn Carlson invited him to join the GRTOP at the Paris Opera, the group being the leading contemporary dance company, touring also world-wide. He stayed at GRTOP for five years and during that period he got the recognition as one best contemporary dancers of his generation. With his solo work Jojo he made an international break-through at the Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord in Paris.

 

 

After the years in Paris and elsewhere in Europe, Jorma Uotinen returned in Finland and took over the artistic directorship of the Helsinki City Theatre Dance Company in 1982. During the nine-year tenure he created for the company several choreographies and  dance works like Kalevala, Ballet Pathétique, Sleeping Beauty and Scream and directed musicals like Chicago, Cats and Piaf, Piaf.

 

 

In 1992 Jorma Uotinen was appointed as artistic director of the Finnish National Ballet. During his directorship he created a world-class repertoire consisting of classical and contemporary works with such choreographic artists as John Neumeier, Natalia Makarova, Sylvie Guillem, Ohad Naharin and Angelin Preljocaj among several others.

 

 

 

Since 2002 Jorma Uotinen works as artistic director of the most important Finnish dance festival, Kuopio Dance Festival, and has invited mainly contemporary companies from all over the world to perform there:  NDT2, Aterballetto, Sankai Juku, Batsheva Dance Company, Introdans, Carte Blanche, Hofesh Schecter Dance Company, Andonis Foniadakis Dance Company among many others.

 

 

Jorma Uotinen has worked as guest choreographer in companies like Royal Danish Ballet, Teatro alla Scala, Introdans, Ballet de l’Europa, Grand Théâtre de Genève, Skånes dansteater, West Australian Ballet, Gothenburg Opera Ballet and many others.

 

 

Besides his choreographic works Jorma Uotinen is nowadays a very popular singer and interpreter of French chansons. He performs with his own music group Trio Avec and they have been visiting all Scandinavian countries and France, Hungary and Germany. They have several various concert programs like J’ai peur d’aimer, Sentimental secrets, Voilà, Sous le ciel de Paris; mostly the repertoire consists of songs and chansons from Edith Piaf, Marlene Dietrich, Jacques Brel, Leo Ferre and Kurt Weill.

 

 

Jorma Uotinen has participated also in Finnish movies and he was granted the Jussi Award for his role in the film Pessi ja Illusia. He has given his voice in Finnish for several international animation films, e.g.  Ratatouille, Monsters vs Aliens and Emojis.

 

 

He was awarded the Pro Finlandia medal (1985) and Officier de l'ordre 'Pour des arts et lettres' (2003, Paris). Also the international television prize Prix Italia was given him (1997, Rome) and the Golden Medal of Honour from Finnish Actors Union in 2001. He has designated Artist Professor by Arts Promotion Centre Finland in 2012.

 

 

Jorma Uotinen is also a TV-celebrity guesting regularly in many shows. In the most popular tv-show 'Dancing with the Stars' he has been one of the judges from on the first show in 2006.