Irja Hagfors
Encyclopedia
Irja Margareta Hagfors was a Finnish
dance
artist, choreographer and dance teacher.
, near Vienna
. She received a diploma in dance from there in 1928.
She returned to Finland in 1928 and was a dance teacher in the autumn of action at Helvi Salminen's dance school. The November of that year was her first public dance performance in Finland. The following year, Hagfors went to Finland and worked for the next few years in many different theatrical and dance groups in Central Europe, including Berlin
and Zurich
. She was also known by her work in the Harald Kreutzberg
and Trudi Schoopin dance groups. After the Second World War broke out she returned to Finland and then worked as a choreographer, dance teacher and dance critic.
Hagfors was one of the pioneers of modern dance and a great defender of Finland. She participated actively in the new dance interpretation of the public polemic, achieving this most prominently in the Tulenkantajat
, in the 5th to 10th editions of the Journal in 1929, together with Antti Halonen
and Raoul af Hällströmin. Hagfors readily acknowledged that a new dance (freedom of dance, dance of expression) is not fitted in the molds of classical ballet in that it is better technically than artistically. But unlike her opponents, she was able to clearly see the potential for a new dance classical ballet a deeper and more diverse expression. In a newspaper editorial, Tulenkantajat stated its admiration for her speech in this debate, in which Hagfors had shown in that her own work made her claims valid, so she could come out of this important cultural debate as a clear winner.
Hagfors studied for a few years in Central Europe in the Rudolf von Laban movement analysis and the German dance theatre. This came to Finland and was became more widely known until in 1960 and 1970s, mainly Marjo Kuusela are the results of the work. Hagfors made a significant cultural act bringing Bertolt Brecht
's theater theory
to Finland (Arena, 1954).
Hagfor’s father Dr. Edvin Hagfors had worked as a teacher and translator and her mother had known the family belonged to the Swedish Ulla Charlotta Marchander. The family also had a second daughter Elizabeth Aino Hagfors. In 1954 Irja Hagfors married Atos Wirtanen
, a writer and Member of Parliament, he died in 1979.
Hagfors was awarded the Pro Finlandia medal in 1969.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
artist, choreographer and dance teacher.
Biography
Hagfors initially studied dance in Finland, at the Gripenberg School and Salminen-Naparstok School. In 1926 she began her studies in Hellerau Laxemburg-school of dance in LaxenburgLaxenburg
Laxenburg is a town in the district of Mödling in the Austrian state of Lower Austria, near Vienna.- History :The place is well-known for its castle, Schloss Laxenburg, which, beside Schönbrunn, was the most important summer seat of the Habsburg dynasty....
, near Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. She received a diploma in dance from there in 1928.
She returned to Finland in 1928 and was a dance teacher in the autumn of action at Helvi Salminen's dance school. The November of that year was her first public dance performance in Finland. The following year, Hagfors went to Finland and worked for the next few years in many different theatrical and dance groups in Central Europe, including Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. She was also known by her work in the Harald Kreutzberg
Harald Kreutzberg
Harald Kreutzberg , was a German dancer and choreographer.Kreutzberg was born at Reichenberg/Liberec. Trained at the Dresden Ballet School, he also studied dance with Mary Wigman and Rudolf Laban....
and Trudi Schoopin dance groups. After the Second World War broke out she returned to Finland and then worked as a choreographer, dance teacher and dance critic.
Hagfors was one of the pioneers of modern dance and a great defender of Finland. She participated actively in the new dance interpretation of the public polemic, achieving this most prominently in the Tulenkantajat
Tulenkantajat
Tulenkantajat is Finnish for Firebearers, and it can refer to:*Tulenkantajat, a Finnish literary movement from the 1920s.*Tulenkantajat, a Finnish hip hop band....
, in the 5th to 10th editions of the Journal in 1929, together with Antti Halonen
Antti Halonen
Antti Halonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for Timrå IK of the Elitserien.-External links:...
and Raoul af Hällströmin. Hagfors readily acknowledged that a new dance (freedom of dance, dance of expression) is not fitted in the molds of classical ballet in that it is better technically than artistically. But unlike her opponents, she was able to clearly see the potential for a new dance classical ballet a deeper and more diverse expression. In a newspaper editorial, Tulenkantajat stated its admiration for her speech in this debate, in which Hagfors had shown in that her own work made her claims valid, so she could come out of this important cultural debate as a clear winner.
Hagfors studied for a few years in Central Europe in the Rudolf von Laban movement analysis and the German dance theatre. This came to Finland and was became more widely known until in 1960 and 1970s, mainly Marjo Kuusela are the results of the work. Hagfors made a significant cultural act bringing Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
's theater theory
Epic theatre
Epic theatre was a theatrical movement arising in the early to mid-20th century from the theories and practice of a number of theatre practitioners, including Erwin Piscator, Vladimir Mayakovsky, Vsevolod Meyerhold and, most famously, Bertolt Brecht...
to Finland (Arena, 1954).
Hagfor’s father Dr. Edvin Hagfors had worked as a teacher and translator and her mother had known the family belonged to the Swedish Ulla Charlotta Marchander. The family also had a second daughter Elizabeth Aino Hagfors. In 1954 Irja Hagfors married Atos Wirtanen
Atos Wirtanen
Atos Kasimir Wirtanen was a Finnish left-wing intellectual, journalist, member of Finnish parliament and cultural critic. He was born in Saltvik. Wirtanen rose to parliament from the Social Democratic Party of Finland list, but in 1946 he defected to the Finnish People's Democratic League...
, a writer and Member of Parliament, he died in 1979.
Hagfors was awarded the Pro Finlandia medal in 1969.