Folk it Up! is not done yet! This wonderful project that brought together a fantastic community full of joy and dance deserves a big finale so we will give it one 👀

Folk it Up Equinox festival
21.-22.3.2026
Oranssi, Helsinki (Kaasutehtaankatu 1, 00540 Helsinki)

✨ A two-day event filled with dance workshops and music, open to anyone regardless of age, skill level or which language they speak.

Full programme of the event is out now! Sign up below to attend the workshops!

For all the newest updates, follow @folkitup_helsinki on Instagram.

Festival program
Day 1 sign up (closed)
Day 2 sign up (closed)

Do you play a musical instrument or do you know somebody that would like to play at the festival? Do you want to share some dances you know or have an idea how to enrich the program? Let us know! Fill out the form Volunteer for the event or reach out though email at youth@alli.fi 💌

Accessibility information

The entrance, event spaces, and restrooms at Oranssi are at street level and are accessible even with larger mobility aids. However, some higher thresholds and sloping ramps may be difficult for manual wheelchair users, for example. The restrooms are gender-neutral. For more info, you can check out Oranssi's website here.

⚠️ Allianssi nuorisovaihto does not provide insurance, all participants attend at their own risk.

📝 Registration form

🎟️ The event is free, but registration is mandatory.

Registrations to participate in all of the festival workshops are now open below!

Due to capacity limitations, there is a limited number of participants per workshop, so sign up ASAP to secure your spot and make sure you can attend :)

Registrations closed on the 19.03.2026

21st March Workshops

12:00-13:00 - Getting started with warm-ups and celebrations

The equinox is a time to cherish the coming of spring, a concept based on scientific knowledge that is symbolically relevant to many folk traditions. We are creating a space to celebrate this time of year collectively through age-old dances, starting the day with a short learning session about equinox traditions.

This session will include Safer Space Principles, an icebreaker, and a warm-up to ensure a safe environment for everyone.

13:00-13:45 - Workshop 1: Opening dances

A gentle start with some simple steps, mainly from the tradition of Breton chain dances.

Bretagne is a region in France where folk dances are thriving, to the point that these dancing traditions have spread across Balfolk festivals all over Europe. Breton chain dances are based on the repetition of basic steps, where one person at the top of the chain leads the group through the space, which is why we believe they are perfect as opening dances.

They can exist in their simplest form — while our feet learn the steps, we can close our eyes and be guided by the music — but they can also be enriched by tricks and improvisation.

14:00–15:30 — Workshop 2: Circlin’ round and round, Balfolk classics

Whenever you travel in Europe and look for a Balfolk session, you will dance at least a Circle Circassien and a Chapelloise. These are must-haves in a Balfolk session, and they will be familiar to those who have attended previous Folk it Up! events.

These dances are mostly “mixers”: group dances where moments in a circle alternate with short moments dancing with a partner — with partners changing throughout the dance. Perfect as a conversation-starter, as an introduction to Balfolk and for making new friends.

16:00–18:00 — Workshop 3: Spicing it up

Food for your body and mind.

Although Balfolk dances are often based on repeating patterns, in this session we will introduce some dances that are less repetitive and less widely known in Balfolk festivals. No need for a Balfolk diploma — if you want to look folk-dance-savvy at your next dance party, just hang out with us during this session.

Some of these dances, like Kehruvalssi, are mixers danced in a big group. For others, like Holmfirth Square, we will break down into smaller groups

18:00–19:00 — Dinner break

Bring your own meal and get to know the other participants, or use the time for a trip to a nearby restaurant. Redi Shopping Centre is very close by and has plenty of supermarkets, cafés, and restaurants.

19:00–21:00 — Live music and open dances

Folk music’s time to shine!

Musicians will call out the names of the dances we have learned during the day, and we will swirl on the dancefloor.

For those who have attended the workshops or previous Folk it Up! sessions, this is the perfect time to consolidate what you have learned throughout the day. If you are new to the dances, you are very welcome to hop in and peek at your neighbour’s (and the facilitators’) feet — or simply enjoy the live music.

21:00 — Moi moi!

We can keep dancing outside the building if your feet cannot stay still, but as volunteers we will need to clean up the space.

If you are interested in the cleaning-up workshop (wink wink), please get in touch with us. In this project we are all volunteers, and we always appreciate a bigger crew.

22nd March Workshops

11:00 –12:00 Stretch, breath

We salute the beginning of a new festival day and get ready for the dances by taking care of our muscles and joints with a guided warm-up session.

12:00 – 13:00 Dance & Draw Workshop

In this creative workshop, guided by visual artist and project volunteer Irina, we will explore the connection between music, movement, and drawing.

We will begin by moving freely to the dance music for a few minutes. From there, participants will create their own unique images in a calm and meditative creative process.

No experience in drawing or dancing is needed. This workshop is not about producing a specific artistic result, but about expressing ourselves freely to the sound of folk music.

13:00 – 14:00 Discussion – What’s next for Folk it Up? + Lunch Potluck 

How do a group of passionate folks, amateur dancers but not professionals, get together, set up and start running a community project?

Folk it Up! started as a youth-led project run by volunteers, co-funded by the EU.

Come with us behind the scenes. In this facilitated dialogue session, volunteers will share how the project was born, what kind of support it received for the sessions and the festival and talk about funding opportunities for youth-based projects so you can turn your creative ideas into reality too.

This will be a space for sharing knowledge about funding and support opportunities for solidarity, artistic and cultural projects but also a space to decide collectively the shape we want this project to take in the months to come, to co-create it together.

During the discussion we can also have a nice lunch potluck - brings a homemade or store-bought dish to share with everyone, to get closer also with food!

14:00 – 15:00 Workshop 1 – At the Four Corners of Europe

Your favourite party dances — but make ‘em folk. At your next gathering with international friends, ditch Eurodance for the Greek Sirtaki or the Polish Chodzony (also known as the Polonaise), without forgetting the more local Letkajenkka — or the “penguin dance”, as some call it. Easy group dances you can share even with friends who don’t know them yet, and a guaranteed way to have fun.

15:15 – 17:30 Workshop 2 – Partner dances

Scottische, Mazurka, Bourée.

We will introduce some folk dances in pairs, some of them involving physical touch, like hand holds, some others only involving coordination of steps and quick glances to your partner. Some slower, others fast and energetic.

As with the other workshops, you don’t need any experience — and you can come solo, we’ll make sure everyone who wants to take part in the workshop will be paired up with a partner.

17:30 – 18:30 Dinner

Bring your own meal and get to know the other participants, or use the time for a trip to a nearby restaurant. Redi Shopping Centre is very close by and has plenty of supermarkets, cafés, and restaurants.

18:30 – 20:00 Folk Dances DJ Set

Final dances together.

The DJ will craft a selection of irresistible folk dance tunes and call out the name of the dances – all the dances we have gone through can be selected but if you have favourites from the workshops and past sessions don’t be shy and contribute to the playlist.

🔅 Volunteer for the event

Would you like to join the organisation team of the festival? Do you play a musical instrument or you'd like to lead a workshop? Let us know! Fill out the form below or send us an email at youth@alli.fi