Ulla Koivisto

Finland, b. 1950.

Studio of Modern Dance, Helsinki 1972-1974

Merce Cunningham Studio, New York 1974-1976, 1977-1978 (teacher: Merce Cunningham)

Viola Farber Studio, New York 1977-1978

Teacher at Sibelius Academy 1978-1981

Joensuu Music Institute 1978-1980

Theatre Academy of Finland 1986 onwards.

Among the first sound pieces: Marita tanssii, 1981.

Ulla Koivisto is a pioneer in the field of contemporary dance in Finland. She has made an imprint as a choreographer, dancer and teacher. Her choreographies are characterized by humour and a clear composition and she argues for openness between art forms, and in her work inventiveness, the absurd and the abstract makes art out of every-day life. The private is the public, completely in a feministic tradition.

One of the first sound pieces was Marita tanssii, 1981, a performance broadcasted on radio. The piece was based on the text Marita tanssii by Arto af Hällström, set to music by Toni Edelmann. Microphones were installed in the studio to amplify the sounds from the costumes and the breathing and movements.

Ulla Koivisto has cooperated with, among others, Päivi Takala Gould, Kiti Loustarinen and Toni Edelmann.

/(Partly based on an article by Annika Tudeer: www.danceinfo.fi/tanka/database/artikkeli?artid=30)