INTO THE FUTURE

This year, Helsinki Festival is launching its new Debutants series, created to showcase a selection of young artists performing at the festival. The series is produced in co-operation with Elisa and ideally reflects the partners' dynamism and commitment to quality.

The Debutants are young, fresh and talented artists, at a highly dynamic point in their lives and professional careers and have been chosen from across the arts spectrum. Art arises at the crossroads between the past and the future, drawing from experience whilst always looking ahead. It is this aspiration the Debutants embody - their works are a glimpse into the future, a taster of what's to come.

The 2010 Debutants are dancer and aerial acrobat Sanna Silvennoinen, dancer and choreographer Carl Knif, conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali , singer-songwriter Sansa and performance artist Sini Haapalinna.

	Sini Haapalinna (s. 1975) Media Facades is a festival of media art and urban screens that takes over public space in seven European cities. Sini Haapalinna in Helsinki Festival Photo: Sampo Reponen
	Carl Knif (s. 1976) A seemingly ordinary city is transformed as we see through its walls and facades into rooms and even through skin. This Helsinki Festival commission takes the form of a poem or a dream. Carl Knif in Helsinki Festival Photo: Tanja Ahola
	Sanna Silvennoinen (s. 1977) Aerial dance and shadow play. Aerial ropes and the human physique are manipulated to great effect in this fascinating contemporary circus showcase, making its debut at Helsinki Festival. Sanna Silvennoinen in Helsinki Festival Photo: Heidi Uutela
	Sansa (s. 1980) Setting the mood is the ethereally beautiful Sansa. The singer-songwriter plays in Huvila Festival tent on 30th of August. Sansa in Helsinki Festival Photo: A-J Savolainen
	Santtu-Matias Rouvali (s. 1985) Young conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali leads the world-class orchestra RSO. Santtu-Matias Rouvali & RSO in Helsinki Festival Photo: Rami Toivonen