Theatre Academy (Finland)

The Theatre Academy (Finnish: Teatterikorkeakoulu, Swedish: Teaterhögskolan) is one of the three academies of the University of the Arts Helsinki and offers education in theatre and dance. It is Finland's largest education provider in its field and, with the exception of acting, the only one in the country. In September 2014, there were 349 students at TeaK: 315 in the bachelor and master programmes, and the remaining 34 were studying for a licentiate or doctoral degree.

The current dean of the Theatre Academy is Maarit Ruikka, and the vice-deans are Leena Rouhiainen and Ari Tenhula.

The degrees offered by the Theatre Academy are the bachelor, master, licentiate and doctor of arts (theatre/dance) in the fields of Acting in Finnish or Swedish, Directing, Dramaturgy, Dance (dancer and choreographer), Lighting and Sound Design and Theatre and Dance Pedagogy. In addition, the academy is responsible for continuing education in its field. TeaK premieres around 40 productions each academic year. The performances are open to the public.

The alumni of the Theatre Academy include previous students who have completed a degree in theatre and dance or a comparable degree at the Theatre Academy or one of its predecessors. They can join the academy's alumni association which, among its other activities, serves as a link between alumni. Current and past staff members of the Theatre Academy and its predecessors can also join the alumni association.

Since 2011, the association has awarded the Alumnus/Alumna of the Year award to an artist, pedagogue or other professional for outstanding achievement in theatre. The first recipient of the award was Seela Sella (2011). In 2012, the award was given to Pauliina Feodoroff and Milja Sarkola, and in 2013, to Hanna Kirjavainen and Miko Jaakkola.

In the period from 1904–1940, Finnish-speaking actors were trained by the school of the Finnish National Theatre and by the private stage school Suomen Näyttämöopisto. Suomen Teatterikoulu (the Finnish Theatre School) was founded in 1943. The school's higher education department started offering director and dramaturg training in 1962.

Swedish-language actor training began considerably earlier than Finnish-language programmes. In 1866–1868, training was organised in conjunction with Nya Teatern, Finland's first theatre school. In 1908, Svenska Teaterns elevskola was founded as part of Svenska Teatern (the Swedish Theatre). It later changed its name to Svenska Teaterskolan i Helsingfors (the Swedish Theatre School in Helsinki) and focused on serving the whole Swedish-language theatre field in Finland.

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