MEDIATHEK

Australian-born of Finnish parents, Tuula Roppola received her initial dance training in Canberra at the Dell Brady School of Ballet. She continued dance studies in Queensland at tertiary level and graduated with an Associate Diploma of Arts (Dance) from Queensland University of Technology in 1990. On graduating she successfully auditioned for the Meryl Tankard Company and performed with that company in Canberra in 1991 and 1992. She moved to Adelaide in 1993 and worked with Meryl Tankard Australian Dance Theatre from 1993 to 1995 and again in 1996. Her distinctive looks and movement qualities were used to advantage by Tankard in works such as Chants de mariage (1991-1992), Songs with Mara (1992), Furioso (1993) and Aurora (1994). In 1996 Roppola began a career as an independent artist creating her first solo piece, Aino, in that year. Other works made since then have included bittersweet (1999). In 1999 she also began working in partnership with the University of Adelaide on the development of projects combining new media and dance. Films produced since then have included Loose Woman (1999) and Blowfish (2000). Blowfish was made in collaboration with Ian Moorehead and was highly commended at the ReelDance Awards in 2002. Roppola currently teaches in Adelaide.