Artistic directors

Kaari Martin

I have not consciously chosen to combine flamenco with modern dance. My style is a result of the need to express myself freely.

Flamenco dancer, choreographer, pedagogue & the Artistic Director of Compañía Kaari & Roni Martin.

Kaari Martin (born 1972) is an internationally noted artist, whose unique style derives from the need to express herself freely.

Martin‘s widely recognised choreographies Anna Karenina, KILL Carmen, La Femme Rouge, The Raven, and Pippi Longstocking have all been embraced by both the audience and critics.

In December 2012, The Raven won the first prize for solo choreography, music and costume design in the world’s most prestigious flamenco choreography competition, Certamen de Coreografia de Danza Española y Flamenco, in Madrid. In 2014, The Finnish Cultural Foundation honored Martin with the award for an outstanding cultural accomplishment and triumph of Finnish flamenco.

In addition to her work as an artistic director, dancer and choreographer, Martin has worked as a pedagogue both in Finland and abroad. She has also held countless positions of trust and created an experimental flamenco festival together with her husband Roni Martin.

Kaari Martin has received the state artist grant for the years 2012-2016 and 2018-2020.

Roni Martin

When I started with my first rock and roll bands at the age of 11, I secretly designed imaginary ballets.

Composer, musician & the Artistic Director of Compañía Kaari & Roni Martin.

Roni Martin has created a remarkable career as a composer and musician. Since 2004 Martin has composed music to Compañía’s most important works, and acted as the collective´s other artistic director.

Martin´s passion lies in live music and the symbiosis of different art forms. He has composed 19 stage works, the most important of which are large productions Anna Karenina and KILL Carmen, Pippi Longstocking, The Raven, and Of the world, based on poems of Pentti Saarikoski. The music of Pippi Longstocking was awarded with Vuoden teatterimusiikkiteko 2010 (Theatre Music of the Year), and the music of The Raven in the most important flamenco choreography competition, Certamen de Coreografia de Danza Española y Flamenco in Madrid year 2012.

Year 2019 Martin arranged and composed, together with a legendary flamenco singer Carmen Linares, new version of poems by Federico García Lorca for the play “Bernarda Alba´s house” in Kuopion kaupunginteatteri (Kuopio City Theatre). Martin has also composed works for the Spanish choreographer Ángel Rojas, ffor art films of Rosa Liksom, as well as worked as a producer and musician on other artists´ projects.

Furthermore, Martin has published seven albums of his own music.