Joy of Karelian Folk Dance

Motora is a Finnish folk dance company, which performs cheerful and stirring dances. Motora’s hometown is Joensuu, a city of 72 000 inhabitants, in Eastern Finland, in the providence of North Karelia. Motora is specialized in Karelian folk dance.
Karelia is a frontier; it is partly in Finland, partly in Russia, so the influences of eastern and western cultures can be seen in Motora’s dance. Rhythm and joy are typical for Karelian dance. Dancers express their feelings strongly and emotionally. There are both traditional and modern choreographies in Motora’s repertoire. Motora is known for reshaping conventional dances, so that they are fresh but still traditional.

Motora was founded by Rauni and Sakari Riikonen in 1968. At the moment Motora is lead by Jarmo and Mari Lehikoinen. In 2008 Motora received the title “Folk dance ensemble of the year”, which is the highest award in the Finnish folk dance scene. Motora also received an award from the state recognizing the important work that Motora does with children’s culture.

Music is a very important part of Karelian dance and Motora’s performances. Accordion players Laura Vartio and Marko Kotilainen are in charge of Motora’s music and the band, Rälläkkä. Other instruments in the band are violin, guitar, bass and cajón.

There are over 150 dancers altogether in Motora. There are eleven different groups for different ages, ranging from age 3 to 30. All dancers practice in “Motti”, which is Motora’s own dance studio in the center of Joensuu.

Motora has performed in the biggest festivals in Finland and participated in national competitions very successfully. The group has made many trips abroad during the last forty years, including Hungary, the USA, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Germany and Romania.

Kapsakat

Kapsakat are the eldest group, consisting of six boys and ten girls between 18-30 years of age. The group has a lot of experience of performing both in Finland and abroad.

2002 Sweden
2004 Hungary
2005 France, Russia
2006 Sweden
2008 Northern Cyprus
2009 Estonia, Hungary
2010 Germany

Sähäkät

Sähäkät are a group of four boys and five girls, between 14-17 years of age. They have danced together for many years now and been very successful.

2006 Sweden
2008 Norway
2010 Spain

Livakat

Livakat consist of twelve 15-20-year-old girls. They’re cheerful and original performances have made them one of the top girl groups in Finland.

2006 Hungary
2008 Norway
2010 Germany

Pelmakat

Pelmakat are a group of eight boys and nine girls between 12-16 years of age. Many of them have been dancing over five years. They have travelled a lot in Finland and they are eager to go and dance abroad as well.

2008 Norway

Contact information for all groups:

Jarmo Lehikoinen
chairman
+358 50331 0380
jarmo.lehikoinen@motora.fi

Mari Lehikoinen
director
+358 4435 77011
mari.lehikoinen@motora.fi

Post address:

Motora
Papinkatu 5
80110 Joensuu
Finland