Outi Valanto

Outi Elena Valanto is a Finnish choreographer, dancer, cultural professional and PhD student (University of Lapland) based in Germany. Her doctoral research investigates how dance-based, embodied methodologies can enhance host institutions’ and individuals' capacity to support artists at risk by fostering empathy, emotional attunement, and critical awareness of host–guest power dynamics. Grounded in dance phenomenological perspectives and demonstrated through three case studies, it presents movement as a method for cultivating ethically responsive, relationally sensitive hosting practices.