University of Helsinki
Dear promovendus or their companion (avec),
you are warmly invited to attend the Conferment Ceremony of the Faculty of Philosophy 2022!
Although it is only the beginning of spring, May is fast approaching and brings with it the Conferment celebrations. Hopefully you have already familiarized yourself with the programme on our website and marked the dates in your calendar. The dance rehearsals for those participating in the Masters’ Contredanse Française are kicking off at the end of March, so we highly recommend that especially the Master promovendi familiarize themselves with the schedule and instructions, which can be found at the end of this letter.
The Conferment Ceremony has a strict dress code, and we ask all participants to read through the instructions carefully and well beforehand. You can find all the instructions regarding the dress code for the promovendi, their companions and other guests separately for each event as well as some general instructions that should be taken into account on our website.
You can find more information about the Conferment Ceremony at fil-promootio.helsinki.fi. Any questions regarding the Conferment Ceremony can be sent to the email address of the Conferment Committee at fil-promootio@helsinki.fi. The Conferment Office opens on the 14th of March and will stay open until the end of May. The Conferment Office is located in room 221 at Porthania (Yliopistonkatu 3). Please check the Conferment Ceremony’s website for more detailed information about the opening hours of the Conferment Office.
You can follow the Conferment Ceremony also on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with the username @Fil-Promootio.
If you are participating in the Conferment with a companion (avec), please forward them this information.
With spring greetings,
The Conferment Committee 2022
—-
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE DANCE REHEARSALS
WHO: The Master promovendi and their companions who wish to take part in the dance rehearsals for the Masters’ Contredanse Française. Everyone, including even the Doctor promovendi and their companions, can take part in the general dance rehearsals.
WHEN: In March, April and May (please check the detailed schedule).
WHERE: At UniSport Otaniemi (Otaranta 6, Espoo) and at Grundskolan Norsen (Unioninkatu 2, Helsinki).
Many academic dances are danced at the Conferment Ball in addition to the performance-like figure dances Masters’ Contredanse Française and Doctoral Polonaise, in which all the Master and Doctor promovendi have the opportunity to participate together with their companions. The Jubilee Masters and Doctors do not take part in these two dances. Mandatory dance rehearsals will be organized for those who are participating in the Masters’ Contredanse Française according to the schedule below.
The Doctor promovendi will practice the Doctoral Polonaise at the dress rehearsal before which it is possible to attend the general dance rehearsals to practice the other academic dances.
General dance rehearsals will be organized for those promovendi and all others who are taking part in the Conferment ceremonies who are not participating in the Masters’ Contredanse Française or the Doctoral Polonaise in order to practice the other academic dances danced at the Conferment Ball. Attending the general dance practice is voluntary.
Dance Rehearsals for the Masters’ Contredanse Française
The Contredance Française is a 7-part figure dance for the Masters, and participating in it requires commitment to attend all the practice sessions. The pair can not miss a single rehearsal, but one of them is able to be absent from one of the sessions, but only for a compelling reason. Because the pairs dance opposite each other, it makes practicing the dance extremely difficult if your opposing pair is missing. Likewise, if the opposing pair drops out, it also means that the other pair can not participate in the whole dance. You must attend the first practice session in order to participate in the dance. We will be teaching the other academic dances during the dance rehearsals for the Masters’ Contredanse Française as well, so you don’t need to attend the general dance rehearsals if you are participating in these.
The dance rehearsals for the Masters’ Contredanse Française are held at the Grundskolan Norsen at the address Unioninkatu 2. The rehearsals take place in the school’s upper gymnasium.
Thurs. 24.03.2022 at 17:00 – 19:00
Thurs. 31.03.2022 at 17:00 – 19:00
Thurs. 07.04.2022 at 17:00 – 19:00
Thurs. 21.04.2022 at 17:00 – 19:00
Thurs. 28.04.2022 at 17:00 – 19:00
Thurs. 05.05.2022 at 17:00 – 19:00
Thurs. 12.05.2022 at 17:00 – 19:00
Thurs. 19.05.2022 at 17:00 – 19:00
Please note that there are no rehearsals on the 14th of April.
Grab yourself a pair of indoor shoes for the practice sessions, high heels are used only in the dress rehearsal. A long dress adds to the festive atmosphere.
The Dress Rehearsal
The mandatory dress rehearsal for those who are participating in the dance performances will be held at Vanha ylioppilastalo (The Old Student House, Mannerheimintie 3) on Tuesday the 24th of May at 17-21.
Dressing for the Contredanse Française and the Polonaise
Please take into account that during the Doctoral Polonaise, everyone must be dressed in black, which is the color of the Doctors. If the companion of the Doctor promovendus wears white during the Conferment Act (see Dress Code), they must change to a black outfit for the Doctoral Polonaise. If the dance partner is a Master promovendus, they must remove their wreath for the duration of the dance.
The Masters’ Contredanse Française is a visual dance based on the patterns formed by the dancers who are wearing black and white. A pair will be able to participate in the dance only if one of them is dressed in a black tailcoat and the other one is wearing a white gown. If you and your companion are wearing the same color during the Conferment Act (see Dress Code), one of you must change your outfit for the Masters’ Contredanse Française.
A Doctor promovendus dressed in a black tailcoat is able to participate in the Contredanse Française as the dancing partner of a Master promovendus, but they must remove all their academic insignias for the duration of the dance. Everyone who is wearing colorful outfits or any other colors than black or white is unable to participate in the Doctoral Polonaise or the Masters’ Contredanse Française, but they are welcome to participate in all other dances.
The General Dance Rehearsals
The general dance rehearsals will take place on Sunday the 8th of May at 13:00-16:00 and on Sunday the 15th of May at 12:00-15:00. The rehearsals are held at UniSport Otaniemi in the address Otaranta 6, Espoo. You do not need a partner for the general dance rehearsals. Both rehearsals are voluntary.