Today we’d like to introduce you to Emmi Salonen.
Hi Emmi, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a dancer, singer and actress currently on tour as a featured dancer with Do Portugal International Circus.
My recent credits include Aino in Parliament on AlfaTV, waitress in Planet Eldorado TV series and Miss Broadway in I Can See Your Voice TV show, both by Warner Bros. International Television Production. Other recent roles include a featured role in the upcoming TV series Kakarat season 3, ensemble in Döbeln Opera at Alexander Theatre and Eleana/Ensemble role in The Miracle of Christmas Musical at New York’s Queens Theatre.
I began my career in Finland where I was born. I started dancing when I was 3 years old, and very quickly I figured out that it was what I wanted to do when I grow up. I took more and more different styles, but my favorites were ballet, tap dance and jazz. I also got to work in a local theatre where I sang a solo song in a play and was selected to be the soloist tap dancer for an opera production. When I was 13 years old, I got accepted into the Boston Ballet Summer Dance Program which I loved and returned two more times in the following summers. At the age of 15, I auditioned and got accepted into the Ballet School of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet’s vocational education program to become a professional dancer.
Before graduating from the Ballet School of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet, I performed with the company in their world premiere production: The Snow Queen. While in school, I had the honour to work with many successful artists and choreographers.
After graduation from the Opera Ballet School, I auditioned and got into the American Musical and Dramatic Academy with a scholarship and two years later graduated with a Dance Theatre Conservatory Certificate. During my time at AMDA, I was selected to perform in The Dance Workshop showcase every semester.
I also love to create and choreograph. For example, my work has been seen on Hällä Stage during the Tampere Theatre Festival and in Arktiset Askeleet dance competition. My choreographies were also chosen to be performed at AMDA in both The Dance Workshop and the Graduation Showcase.
Due to the pandemic, I had to return to Finland for a bit and almost immediately I was asked to join Espoon Tanssiopisto’s dance faculty to take over all tap dance levels. Soon after, I became part of the dance faculty at Lärkkulla Musical as well where I taught theatre jazz and tap dance. I was also asked to choreograph all of Harmony Sisters Musical’s tap numbers for the Summer Stock Theatre in Mäntyharju. For the Spring season 2021, I was invited to teach ballet at the Tampere Conservatory.
I’m currently on my O1 Artist Visa and working on a contract with Do Portugal International Circus.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I feel the road to become a performing artist is never easy. It requires hard work and dedication and the goal really must be clear in the mind towards which one strives.
When Boston Ballet Summer Dance Program accepted me to their five-week program, I was 13 years old and going to another continent alone while speaking very little English. It was a big leap into the unknown but I’m really glad I did it.
Also, I’m not originally from the capital of Finland and when I got accepted to the Ballet School of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet at the age of 15, I had to make the big decision if I was ready to move 2 hours away from home by myself. I made the decision to go and have never regretted it.
It’s also never easy to move to the United States from another country, and I’m talking about the visas. First I had to get a student visa for the school and then eventually, after my OPT visa, I had to apply for the Artist visa O1 which is one of the hardest ones to get as it is for the “Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement.” I was in the middle of the application process just when the pandemic started so it took me a lot longer to complete it because of the longer processing times. Finally, with my 1200-page portfolio, my O1 visa was accepted without any extra clarifications (which is rare) and I was able to return to the United States.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My website has plenty of information and my resume can be found there www.emmisalonen.com.
Briefly again, I am a dancer, singer and actress. My fortes with dance styles are ballet, tap dance(rhythm and Broadway styles), jazz, theatre jazz, modern and contemporary. I have plenty of experience in choreographing and teaching all the dance styles above as well.
As a singer, I’m a 2nd soprano with a mix belt.
I have done work professionally in both, the United States and Finland. I have worked as a dancer and dancer/singer in an opera house, dance companies, musicals and TV series. I have also worked as an actress in several TV series and productions.
I speak Finnish and English fluently, basic Swedish and some beginner Spanish.
Also while at AMDA, I worked in the school’s theatre’s costume shop and can now sew with both regular and industrial sewing machines and serger. The sewing skills are very handy especially now while on tour.
I would say my specialty really is my versatility, and also professional-level tap dance as a special skill. Also what I’m proud of is that everything I have accomplished as a performer I have done on my own, no family members, etc. from this industry.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Right now I’m so happy where I am right now and that I get to perform every single day to the live audience. I’m also very grateful of my family, boyfriend and friends. I have a great support system!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.emmisalonen.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmiserafia/?hl=fi
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmi.salonen.5
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA2CagveFuCZR8_uRJ4K59w
