Tanssiteatteri Raatikko, Vantaa

Dance Theater Raatikko is a Finnish dance and children's theater from Vantaa. Raatikon was founded in 1972 by dancer-choreography Marjo Kuusela and Maria Wolska, and is Finland's oldest continuous dance theater. The theater's home stage is located in Tikkurila at Silkkitehtientie 5, where the group is on tour both in Finland and abroad.

The works presented by Raatiko represent modern contemporary dance and children's dance theater, and are characterized by strong emotional content and humor. Each year, Raatikko produces two to three new premiers. The program includes dance theater works for adults and children and adolescents. The group's approximately 400 performers are followed by more than 30,000 spectators each year.

In recent years, Raatikko has expanded its operations, for example, to interactive dance works for children, which can participate in the presentation. The theater cooperates with Vantaa schools, kindergartens and cultural services. Until the late 1980s, Marjo Kuusela was the artistic director of the theater. Since 1988, dancer-choreographer Marja Korhola has been the leader.

As Marja Korhola retires in early 2022 as a new leader, dancer and choreographer Jaakko Toivonen will begin.

In 1983, the Dance Theater was awarded the Vantaa Cultural Award. The Raatikko has been awarded several times at other times. For example, the Children's Day Award received the Theater in 2014.

In 2016, the program included, for example, a children's theater performance combining Finnish folklore and foolish stories to HYS-Hys Smile.