Historical dances are social court and party dances from the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo and Empire eras. The information about them is based on the notebooks of European court dance masters. The dances and the music have been reconstructed from historical sources. New dances based on historical dance patterns and modern music are created even nowadays. The dances are beginner-friendly and accessible to all levels of dancers.
Dance history is maintained at workshops and ball events. One of the largest and oldest university ball is held annually at the Zurich University of Science and Technology, where the annual tradition has been carried on continuously since 1886. In Finland, Academic proms have been held since the 1850s in connection with promotion ceremonies. The dance tradition is supported by open rehearsals of historical dances organized all around Finland.
The dance practices are arranged by groups of historical dance enthusiasts in Joensuu and Kuopio. In Joensuu the historical dance practices are organised by Academic & Historical Dance Society Joensuu in collaboration with Mannun Vartijat ry. We welcome students and staff of the university and the university of applied sciences, their family and friends, and every one who is interested.
Balls are held in Joensuu twice a year, in late autumn and spring.
Next events:
11th October 2025 in Savonlinna, Olavinlinna Castle (more information below in this page)
22th November 2025 in Joensuu (more information coming later)
22.09.2025 16 o'clock General meeting of the club
Educa building, University of Eastern Finland Campus (E102) (Tulliportinkatu 1, Joensuu)
General meeting of the club, where new board is chosen and our action plan and budget is made for the year 2026. If you have ideas or want to participate making the fun for the next year, this is your place to be.
General open rehearsals In Joensuu Mondays 18.00-20.00
During the Autumn season 2025 from 08.09.2025 until 15.12.2025
At The University of Eastern Finland's Campus at the Educa building hall E200
(Tulliportinkatu 1, Joensuu)
Exception 22.09.2025 at The University of Eastern Finland's Campus at the Metria building lobby
(Yliopistokatu 7)
No registration, free of charge
Teaching is in Finnish and English.
13-14.9.2025 University Campus Educa E200 at 10am-14pm.
20.9.2025 University Campus E200 at 10am-14pm.
In the course, we will explore the dances of the Renaissance period from the 15th to the 16th centuries. In the course, dance choreographies are learned from the beginning, starting with learning different step sequences. The course is equally suitable for beginners and advanced dancers. The teaching is in Finnish and in English.
13-14.9.2025 Steps and choreographies of italian dances
Educa E200. Teaching on Saturday and sunday 10-14 (together 8 hours). There is a lunch break included. (Bring lunchbox)
Teacher: Atro Kajaste.
Dances:
*steps*;
**Villanella (Caroso 1581)
**Egle, Gresley (noin 1500)
***Colonnese, Ambrosio 1463
***Contrapasso in due (Caroso 1581)
And some other ones:
20.9.2025 Renessanssiajan tanssit / Dances from the Renaissance Period
Teaching on Saturday 10-14 (4 hours).
There is a lunch break included. (Bring your own lunch and water bottle)
Educa E200, University of Eastern Finland Campus, Joensuu.
Teacher: Suvi Källman.
Dances:
*steps
**Amoroso, Ambrosio 1475
**Ballo del Fiore, Caroso, 1581
Sekä joitain seuraavista / and some of the following:
**Villanella (Caroso 1581)
**Egle, Gresley (noin 1500)
***Contrapasso in due (Caroso 1581)
***Colonnese, Ambrosio 1463
Rehearsals of the Kuopio historical dance group, open to everyone
In Kuopio Tuesdays 18.30-21.00
Kulttuuriareena 44 (Kauppakatu 44, Kuopio)
No registration, free of charge
More information: https://kuohitar.yhdistysavain.fi/
For the rehearsals you need:
A water bottle, comfortable clothing to practice in, and shoes suitable for dancing.
Each dance is taught from the beginning and we learn new dances every week.
The exercises do not require commitment. You can participate without a partner and or any dancing experience.
Everyone is welcome as they are to practice the dances!
Our events are substance-free.
More information:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historiallinentanssijns/
Discord server: https://discord.gg/GWPuxf37mz
Next event:
Renaissance Ball - 11th October 2025
Olavinlinna 550th Anniversary:
Olavinlinna Castle, Savonlinna. The Ball is a part of Olavinlinna 550th anniversary celebrations.
Olavinlinna’s history: https://www.kansallismuseo.fi/en/olavinlinna/historiaa
The Castle is not accessible. More information: https://www.kansallismuseo.fi/fi/olavinlinna/esteettomyys (Text only in Finnish currently, can be translated elsewhere)
The refresh dance rehearsals are at Savonlinnan Kansanopisto on Friday 10.10.2025 at 18-21 and Saturday 11.10.2025 at 10-12. Dancers have an option to stay the night at Savonlinnan kansanopisto for an affordable price. More information: https://savonlinnankansanopisto.johku.com/fi_FI (Text only in Finnish, can be translated elsewhere)
Tickets:
Tickets are now available!
The price of the ticket includes a buffet dinner at the ball, as well as the extra dance rehearsals on Friday 10.10.2025 and Saturday 11.10.2025 at Savonlinnan kansanopisto.
The main organiser of the event is Savonlinnan orkesteriyhdistys (Savonlinna orchestra organisation), whose quartet is responsible for the music at the ball. There are also audience tickets sold for the ball, which let you watch the dances.
Tickets: https://www.nettilippu.fi/fi/event/savonlinna-kvartetti-renessanssitanssiaiset
Dance rehearsals:
In order to participate in the ball, you need to participate in the dance rehearsals beforehand. Dance rehearsals are held by Joensuu, Kuopio (Text only in Finnish, can be translated elsewhere) and Tampere historical dance societies. Savonlinnan kansanopisto also offers a weekend-long dance course from Friday 03.10.2025 to Sunday 05.10.2025. (More information) (Text only in Finnish, can be translated elsewhere)
The extra dance rehearsals are held at Savonlinnan kansanopisto (Opistokatu 1, 57600 Savonlinna). These rehearsals are free of cost to people, who have bought the dancer tickets.
Friday 10.10.2025 at 18-21 and Saturday 11.10.2025 at 10-12.
More information on the dances, dance instructions and videos you can find in The Dance Book (Link to Google Drive)
The Programme:
Arrival at Olavinlinna at 14 o’clock at the latest.
14.30-15.15 1st dance set (Kongressisali/Congress hall)
15.15-16.00 break and buffet dinner (The Audience’s buffet)
16.00-16.40 2nd dance set (Main Hall)
16.40-17.20 break and buffet dinner (The dancer’s buffet)
17.20-18.00 3rd dance set (Main Hall)
18.00-19.00 free time to spend time at the Castle’s tavern
Setlist:
Dance set 1, (Congress hall) ~ 45 min
A1 *Entrance: Pavane
B4 **Villanella (Caroso 1581)
A2 **Goddesses, (Playford, 1651)
A3 **Grimstock, (Playford 1651)
A4 *Madam Socilia’s Almaine, (Unknown, 1570)
Dance set 2, (Main hall) ~ 40 min
B2 **Amoroso, (Ambrosio 1475)
B3 **Ballo del Fiore, (Caroso, 1581)
B1 ***Contrapasso in due (Caroso 1581)
B5 *Black Almaine, (Unknown, 1570)
A5 *Branle des Chevaux (Arbeau 1589)
Dance set 3, (Main hall) ~ 40 min
C1 ***Colonnese, (Ambrosio 1463)
C2 **Egle, Gresley (~1500)
C3 *Petit riens, early Italian (1475 Ambrosio)
C4 *Montarde Branle (Arbeau 1589)
C5 *Trotto (music 1300-l, coreography1980-l)
The event is inspired by the renaissance period. The dress code is attire stylishly resembling the time period: Renaissance, Baroque or Medieval clothing (approximately 15th-17th century). You may choose to dress freely according to your own desires into male or female clothing. This dresscode is referential. You may apply your own view of Renaissance clothing according to your own visions and skills. The dress code is intended to support the event’s atmosphere and aesthetics. Nobody will come to rate or criticize your clothing. Please note that the audience’s dress code is open.
Some examples of possible attire:
A fancy Renaissance outfit: Represent prince Juhana’s court wearing velvet, silk and gold in a fancy and elegant ball outfit. A nice hat with ostrich feathers, beautiful collars and showy accessories crown any outfit.
A functional period outfit: Merchants, artisans and soldiers dressed in practical woolen and flaxen outfits. You may dress up your outfit by adding layers: a flaxen shirt or dress (or if need be, cotton) is suitable for a lower, breathable layer. The upper layer could be a unicolored tunic or dress, or a showier belt. The richest people had furs too.
A simple folk costume: People from lower estates, such as servants and other people of the castle dressed in what they had. There could be an apron on top of a dress and a scarf on the head. Clothing similar to Finnish ancient folk costumes were also in use in Finland for a long time. A tunic, belt and pants is also a suitable outfit.
A soldier's uniform: Foreign soldiers could even be Vikings or Scots for example. Viking clothing and Scottish kilts are also suitable attire for the time period.
Please note that formal shoes or dance shoes are also important. You may choose to wear comfortable dance shoes instead of authentic historical footwear. The Congress Hall’s floor is wood and the Main Hall’s floor is stone. You may not dance in nail-bottomed shoes on the stone floor.
If you need help in dressing up, the following companies might be of use to you:
Joensuu: Asupalvelu aikahattu (renting clothing) : https://share.google/vL9gqLFQhNSxPGFGB
Helsinki: Artistiasu (renting clothing): https://www.artistiasu.fi/en/30/landing
Kaarina and the internet: Rautaportti/Irongate (sold clothing): https://irongatearmory.com/product-category/middle-ages-and-renaissance/clothing-of-the-middle-ages/?xdomain_data=nAnLooU1j63IIKekLzvTUEJAGQ5gBYvdoJP56B8ebotfHTpgE%2Fnc3B1ji2q3MUkM
Hämeenlinna and the internet: Keskiaikapuoti (sold clothing): https://keskiaikapuoti.fi/collections/neitoin-ja-rouwain-vaatteet (Text only in Finnish, can be translated elsewhere)
We want to create an event for the whole academic community where you can naturally meet people with different backgrounds across branches of science. You may bring your friends too! Children of all ages are welcome to join with their guardians. Our academic dances at the university are sober. (Please note, that the ball at Olavinlinna is an exception)
❧
Everyone is welcome to dance, regardless of their abilities and disabilities. The dances are easy to learn. Participating in the rehearsals helps you to enjoy the ball fully, but you can also learn all the dances at the event. Each dance is reviewed quickly before it begins, and instructions are given during the dance.
❧
Dancing is a universal language that connects people with different backgrounds. Meet fellow dancers with a smile, greeting, eye contact and kind words. We use Finnish and English when dancing, but you can interact in any shared language.
❧
With your dance costume you can express your own personality or cultural background, or try something completely new. A dress or a suit can be worn by anyone, regardless of gender. We also offer a safe space for wearing gender-neutral or gender-crossing clothing. (See: Dress code)
❧
The languages used in the event are Finnish and English. Together we make sure everyone understands what is going on.
❧
Whether it's about the other person's gender identity, sexual identity, dance role or anything else, don’t make assumptions. If asking is necessary, remember to be polite.
❧
In dance, we use the titles "Lord" and "Lady" for the dance roles. Dancers choose a role depending on the situation and can change it for each dance. These roles are not tied to the dancer’s gender or choice of clothing. We don't assume anyone's gender.
❧
At the beginning of each dance, the dance partners change. You can ask anyone to dance with you. You will then decide on who dances the role of the "Lord" and who the "Lady". We recommend that you try both roles during the Ball. In general, the choreography is almost the same for both.
❧
The event is open and safe for everyone. There will be a steward and a harassment contact person at the Ball who you can turn to in case of a problematic situation. We will work together to ensure everyone a warm and welcome atmosphere which we are all responsible for creating.
"Music of the Night" Victorian Gothic Masquerade Ball.
Photos: Eetu Autere @eetuprkl
You are cordially invited to the Queen of Hearts’ Ball
On Saturday 4.5.2024 13:00-19:00
at Kerhotalo Rupla, Sairaalakatu 27 Joensuu
Story by Lewis Carroll 1860-1890
Photos: Eetu Autere @eetuprkl
Academic Historical Ball
Saturday 18 November 2023 from 11 am to 4 pm, Art Museum Onni Ballroom, Joensuu
You are cordially invited to the Academic Historical Ball of the University of Eastern Finland. Everyone is welcome as they are to participate the atmosphere and the joy of dancing!
The themes of the event are Diversity and Academic culture. Diversity celebrates the inclusivity of our academic community and its people who represent different disciplines, nationalities and genders. The event is open and safe for everyone, which we will take care of together. This event is funded by the UEF equality and communality fund.
Photos: Valokuvat: Sonja Havukainen (sonjahavu_photography) ja Sisko Turunen
Spring Ball in Joensuu
Wellcome to celebrate spring and dance historical dances in lovely 19th century major.
Time: 27.5.2023, at 12-18
Place: Linnunniemi major, Linnunniementie 4, Joensuu
Photos: Danzan Ulanov & Xudan Zhu