​​​​Tuija Lappalainen ​is a multidisciplinary artist, choreographer, dramaturg-director, performer – dancer, actor (FIA) – and visual artist based in Finland. Her practice spans performance, choreography, directing and dramaturgy within the fields of new dance, contemporary performance and -theatre. Drawing from her background in visual arts, she also engages with scenography as part of the creative process. 

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She holds a Master’s degree in Dance Performance (MA) from the University of the Arts Helsinki, Theatre Academy. She has also completed postgraduate studies in choreography and artistic research through the Postgraduate Residency Studios and Performance Research Studies (PReS) at SOZO – VIM in Kassel. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts (Art and Media, Tampere University of Applied Sciences,  and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre (Arts Academy of Turku University of Applied Sciences).

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Her recent works as a choreographer and dramaturg-director has been developed through co-productions with Contemporary Art Space Kutomo, Ehkä Production and Barker Theatre – a stage for independent art in Turku. Her works have been presented at venues and events such as the Dance Current Tampere Festival at Hällä Stage, the New Performance Turku Biennale and the Sanskar Virtual Performance Festival, as well as in the programmes of Tehdas Theatre, Näyttämö Theatre and Halle 2 in Kassel, Germany and as part of the State Prize for Performing Arts 2021–winning large-scale immersive theatre production Huoneiden kirja. From 2026 onwards, she is also engaged as a curator and member of Slurp – a new, nomadic, artist-led platform for contemporary performance.

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She has recently performed in works by choreographers including Anne-Mareike Hess (Soturit, 2026, Dance Theatre Minimi, ITAK-stage), Anna Torkkel (Bliss, 2025, Kiasma Theatre; 2026, Turku City Theatre), Jenni-Elina von Bagh (As Time Goes By, 2023, Side Step Festival, Zodiak – Center for New Dance, Spring Roll Festival), Sara Grotenfelt (Voyage Voyage, 2024, Liisa Pentti Co. studio) and Lindon Shimizu (Grasp, 2025, Kiisu Halll, Outokumpu & Birongitai, 2021, ITAK-stage; 2022, ICE Hot Nordic Platform – Dance House Helsinki; 2024, East-West Connection tour).

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She has collaborated as an actor with London-based theatre director Ishwar Maharaj (A Doll’s House – Two Plays of Nora, 2025; The Moth, 2021; Leviatan, 2019, Theatre Vertigo) and with directors including Maija Westerholm (Huoneiden kirja, 2021), Martta Pesonen (Any One of Us, documentary, 2018) and Aino Kivi (Havukka-aho Ajattelija, Joensuu City Theatre, 2016).

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