SAKARI MÄNNISTÖ
Immersed in the world of circus from a young age, Sakari started juggling at 13 and soon began devising his own shows. He studied under the tutelage of Arcadi Poupon, Maksim Komaro, Denis Paumier and Jay Gillian.
Throughout his career Sakari has been involved as a performer and director in over 50 different circus performances and productions with companies such as Agit-Cirk, Makeshift Company, Circo Aereo, Gandini Juggling and Cirk La Putyka. He has performed throughout Finland, Central Europe, Russia, Canada and the USA. Sakari has also taught master class workshops at ENC Montréal, Lille-Lomme, Berlin Katakomben and National Centre for Circus Arts (London).
Apart from his performing and teaching work, Sakari is also a founding Artistic Director of Agit-Cirk, Makeshift Company, Silence London (2018), Birch - festival London (2019), and ESSE -festival (2022-), and formerly the Silence Festival in Lapland (2006-2016)
POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY
- Agit-Cirk -company founding member and co-director 2005-today
- Member of board at Cirko – Center for New Circus in Finland 2012-2013 & 2018-
- Founding member and co-director of Makeshift Company 2017-
- Board member of the Finnish Dance and Circus Union (STST) 2021-
- Board member of the Circus and Dance Information Centre Finland 2022-
- Artistic director of the Silence -festival 2009-2014 and 2016
- Founding member and a member of board of the Silence association 2013-2019
PRIZES
Finland State Arts Prize for Circus Arts 2017 for the work on Silence-Festival (Taiteen Valtionpalkinto)
POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY
- Agit-Cirk -company founding member and co-director 2005-today
- Member of board at Cirko – Center for New Circus in Finland 2012-2013 & 2018-
- Founding member and co-director of Makeshift Company 2017-
- Board member of the Finnish Dance and Circus Union (STST) 2021-
- Board member of the Circus and Dance Information Centre Finland 2022-
- Artistic director of the Silence -festival 2009-2014 and 2016
- Founding member and a member of board of the Silence association 2013-2019
PRIZES
Finland State Arts Prize for Circus Arts 2017 for the work on Silence-Festival (Taiteen Valtionpalkinto)