Dancer-choreographer and producer Pia “del Norte” Pohjakallio is one of the most sought after flamenco-schooled dancers in the nordic region. Pia has presented both traditional and experimental work in Sweden as well as internationally, her latest work including a commissioned “dance performance of the year” made for Scenkonst Sörmland, the regional culture institute for the Sörmland Region. Apart from touring both conventional stages, schools and other spaces with different productions since 2011, Pia hosts artistic residencies in the Sörmland region, mentors young musicians and dancers, holds masterclasses and talks on flamenco as an artform as well as always continuing to educate herself within the cultural sector. She has also studied dance pedagogy at Stockholms University of the Arts 2008-2011 and has continuously studied Spanish dance and flamenco in Spain since 2006. 

 

Pia is the artistic director as well as the all-in-all organiser behind FlamencoFredag, the continuous flamenco stage in Stockholm, Sweden. FlamencoFredag is a space for flamenco that has presented more than 100 individual artists from around 20 different countries, from both the music- and dance field in Stockholm since 2015 reaching large audience numbers. 

The main flamenco nights offer a broad palette of flamenco ranging from the most experimental to the most traditional, always including a “tablao-set” in the program. The events have been practically always sold out and reached audience records in collaborations, such as the during the FlamencoFredag-afternoon and night at the Stockholm Culture Festival 2019 where the FF-evening was the most visited on the specific stage. 

Now FlamencoFredag has grown into a platform offering both “traditional FF nights” as well as large scale Flamenco All Stars performances, Flamenco Matinés for schools and during the pandemic, even digital programs as well as outdoor Flamencowalks! 

 

FlamencoFredag has received funding from the City of Stockholm since 2015 and from the Swedish Arts Council (KulturRådet) since 2017, for specific projects also from Musikverket, Stockholm Region and the Swedish Art Grants Committee and aids from the Spanish Embassy in Sweden. FlamencoFredag has collaborated with many prestigious Swedish instances such as the Stockholm Culture Festival, Skansen, Dansens Hus, Stallet Världsmusik, Västerås Concert hall, Uppsala International Guitar Festival, Instituto Cervantes, the Royal College of Music etc throughout the years as well as being an active part in many collaborations in Sweden and internationally. FlamencoFredag has worked with programs including all of the main partners within this application (and many more), thus also being a part of projects funded by the Nordic Culture Fond. The award of “Producer of the Year” from Folk- och Världsmusikgalan in 2018 was given to FlamencoFredag for the high quality programs that keep filling the theatres with flamencolovers.

 

Please link to piadelnorte.com & flamencofredag.se