Jarkko Lehmus is a dramaturg and director specialising in non-verbal performative arts. He is based in Helsinki, Finland. He holds an MA Dramaturgy & Writing for performance from Goldsmiths, University of London, MA Arts Policy & Management from Birkbeck, University of London and BA (Hons) Theatre from Guildford School of Acting.Lehmus has worked professionally on the field of performing arts since 1995. His experience ranges from ballet to social dances and from conceptual performance art to musicals. In his artistic work Lehmus concentrates on embodied experiences of imagination, emotions and kinaesthetic empathy.Lehmus lived and worked in the UK from 1998 until 2010. During his time in the UK he performed with Kim Brandstrup's Arc Dance Company, David Hughes Dance Company and Michael Keegan-Dolan's Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre among others. From 2003 until 2009 he danced as a soloist with Scottish Ballet performing in neo-classical and contemporary works by William Forsythe, Siobhan Davies, Ashley Page, Krzysztof Pastor, Richard Alston and Stephen Petronio. In 2005 Lehmus received an Herald Angel Award for Excellence for performances of Ashley Page’s works at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.After returning to Finland in 2010 Lehmus danced for several years with Tero Saarinen Company and has also guested as a dancer, choreographer, rehearsal director and audience development pedagogue at the Finnish National Ballet.Alongside his artistic work Lehmus has also been an active member of the performers’ unions and arts organisations both in the UK and in Finland. 2014-2016 Jarkko held the position of artistic director of JoJo - Oulu Dance Centre. From April 2016 he worked as the dramaturg & producer of Cirko - Center for New Circus where he is responsible of the annual performance programme, projects, international networks, audience engagement, and dramaturgical work for Cirko's residency artists. From 2022 onwards Jarkko has been the director of Cirko.In 2023 Lehmus acquired AIDA Freediving instructor certification.