The FLT Podcast

Valtteri Raekallio - Protecting the team, so they can go crazy

May 21, 2024

Valtteri Raekallio, a prominent Finnish dancer and artistic director of the Helsinki Dance Company, shares intriguing insights about the power of non-verbal communication in artistic expression. He discusses the crucial balance between productivity and emotional connection in teamwork, especially within virtual settings. Valtteri emphasizes the importance of trust and shared experiences in creating impactful performances and explores how artistic success can be assessed through team well-being. His reflections on leadership transformation in Finnish arts shed light on nurturing creativity beyond traditional models.

01:02:05

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Episode guests

Valtteri Raekallio

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Valtteri Raekallio highlights the challenge of limited funding for independent arts in Finland, affecting the growth and creativity of companies.

He emphasizes the importance of physicality in artistic expression, illustrating how movement fosters deeper emotional connections beyond verbal communication.

Raekallio discusses the necessity of a supportive leadership style that nurtures talent and prioritizes team well-being to achieve collaborative success.

Deep dives

The Challenge of Independent Art Funding in Finland

The podcast addresses the struggles faced by independent art companies in Finland, highlighting the limited government funding available primarily for established institutions. Valtteri Raekallio, a prominent Finnish dancer and choreographer, emphasizes the adverse impact of this funding structure on his company, Räikkallio Corporation, often leading to sold-out performances with insufficient resources. He expresses frustration over the inefficiencies of the arts funding system, illustrating that many talented artists have left Finland in search of better opportunities. This financial strain hinders creativity and limits the growth of independent arts, prompting a need for reform in the funding approach.

Intro

6min

Beyond Words: The Cognition of Movement

5min

Building Trust in Disconnected Teams

12min

Flow and Performance in Dance Teamwork

6min

Evaluating Project Success Through Emotional Metrics

18min

Transforming Leadership in Finnish Arts

13min

The Burden of Leadership and the Sensory Experience in Creativity

3min

In this episode we sit down with dancer, director and leader of the Helsinki Dance Company Valtteri Raekallio and discuss, communication beyond language, the roll of physicality in teams, connectedness, feedback, tripping, trust and protecting your team to set them free.

(00:00) Intro to Valtteri Raekallio. Exploring Finnish leadership in the artistic world. Funding challenges for independent art companies in Finland. Exploring societal issues and the effects of authority and power. School Bullying. Mental health.
(07:26) Thinking is not just language-based and includes feeling and physical presence
(09:26) Balance between productivity and human connection.
(10:34) Challenges in building trust and teamwork in virtual or disconnected environments
(14:03) Creating common understanding in a diverse group is key to success.
Leadership supporting people's emotional state.
(16:09) Importance of physical communication in dance
(21:00) Emotional connection impacts work safety
(22:20) Achieving Flow State in group work challenges
(25:53) Ideas progress through different stages of development
(28:22) Evaluating project success based on surveys and well-being of staff
(31:20) Creating a special, shared experience through performance art
(34:31) Creating a meaningful working environment through shared vision.
Success is not always about achieving perfection, but about collective satisfaction.
(38:34) Failures in creating art should be challenging and impactful
(40:20) Licensing and building clarity is becoming more important in the arts field
(44:52) Physical interaction affects cognition and thinking
(46:24) Cultural leadership is evolving towards more open communication and addressing long-standing issues like power misuse and emotional sustainability
(50:50) Feeling safe is essential for courage and creativity
(53:35) Dream production topic
(55:55) Hosts' reflections. Getting emotional & wellbeing feedback from the team. Psychological safety. Emphasis on pride, traditional techniques, and leadership in the creative process. Exploring the impact of leadership on international processes. Focus on physical sensations during work.