Janne-Pekka Manninen, chairperson of the board
Photographer, writer
Janne-Pekka Manninen is a photographer and a writer, whose career has spanned nearly 20 years in journalism. As a photographer, Manninen has specialized in portraiture, documentary and fine art. Manninen has worked as a photographer and as a writer in numerous productions for Flow and considers it a privilege to work so closely with the performing arts.
Milla Virtanen, vice-chairperson of the board
Dance artist
Milla Virtanen is an Oulu-based dance artist, who has studied dance in Finland and in the Netherlands. She graduated from Fontys Dance Academy (NL) in 2008.
Since 2007, Virtanen has created 14 dance theater works. Her art has been presented in all the Nordic countries and in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Russia, Germany, Great Britain and South Korea.
Her work is characterized by unique physical expression, absurdity and heightened tension. Milla Virtanen is interested in the experimental combining of dance, physical theater and the visual arts.
Maria Littow, sihteeri ja rahastonhoitaja
Tapani Launonen, board member
Fixer, Location scout, Production service producer
Tapani Launonen is an experienced craftsman in arts and culture, who has photographed, danced and created films during his entire career. “Dance has been the first and most cherished creative outlet for me, one that I found at a school party,” says Launonen.
“For me, dance has the power to describe life in the most touching way. I feel like I understand dance and believe in it more than the other stage arts. If I should ever direct or produce a feature-length film, all the principal cast shall be contemporary dancers. Their expression is peerless in its credibility and it is wonderful to see how contemporary circus has grown from the same seed. It is my honor to support the future of Flow Productions through working on the board.”
Pirjo Yli-Maunula, board member
Artistic Director, Dance artist
Pirjo Yli-Maunula is Flow Productions’ Artistic Director. The position entails work as a dancer, choreographer, director, curator and a producer. She is one of two founding members of Flow Productions and has worked in different capacities with dance for 40 years.
