Kimi Ervi & Aki Rissanen Trio: ”Traces Sonores / Sound Traces”

Music and movement merge into one breathing organism as Kimi Ervi’s dance company and the Aki Rissanen Trio join forces in Traces Sonores / Sound Traces. The performance creates a seamless dialogue between live jazz improvisation and jazz dance – every moment alive, unique, and in motion.

Kimi Ervi, a Franco-Finnish dancer, choreographer, and teacher, is among the most promising young dance artists in Europe. Known for his powerful stage presence, musical sensitivity, and distinctive personal style, Ervi combines urban energy with poetic physical expression.

He began his professional career exceptionally early, performing as a Eurovision dancer at age 15, and a year later reaching the semifinals of Incroyable Talent in France. Since then, Ervi has toured widely across Europe as part of the Disney in Concert series, appeared in NRJ Music Awards shows with leading French artists, and taught dance in France, Finland, the Netherlands, and Los Angeles – including at the legendary Tmilly Dance Studios.

On stage, Ervi’s choreography intertwines with the expressive, virtuosic sound of the Aki Rissanen Trio, one of the most internationally acclaimed ensembles in Finnish jazz. The EMMA Award-winning trio features pianist Aki Rissanen, bassist Antti Lötjönen, and drummer Teppo Mäkynen – all leading figures of the Finnish scene.

Their latest album Imaginary Mountains (Edition Records, 2025) is a musical exploration of the inner landscapes of the human mind – the invisible mountains that symbolize our struggles, fears, and aspirations. Rissanen blends classical lyricism, minimalist thought, and daring improvisation, while Lötjönen and Mäkynen provide a dynamic rhythmic foundation that resonates perfectly with dance.

Traces Sonores / Sound Traces is a sensory journey at the intersection of sound and movement – a living fusion of jazz and contemporary dance, pulsing with creativity, rhythm, and human connection.

Kimi Ervi, dance
Aki Rissanen, piano
Antti Lötjönen, double bass
Teppo Mäkynen, drums

Tickets €40 / €35 + order fee (from €1.50 + 0.65% of order), Lippu.fi
Duration approx. 1 hour

Erkko Hall, Dance House Helsinki
Kaapeliaukio 3, 02100 Espoo (Google Maps / HSL Journey Planner)