WRITINGS ON WATER

Carolyn Carlson

Ballet dancer and choreographer Carolyn Carlson was born in California to parents of Finnish origin. At the completion of classical dance studies she met Alwin Nikolais, being the member of his New York company for seven years, she became his emblem figure. Travelling worldwide she won the Prix du Meilleur Danseur at the International Festival of Dance, Paris in 1968. In 1971 she decided to move to Paris, where she lives and works until now. During the time in France, Carlson joined the Anne Beranger company where she performed and created her first choreography. She also met with Rolf Libermann in 1971, who invited her to the Paris Opera House as leading choreographer and in 1975 to head the Group of Theatre Research for the Paris Opera House (GRTOP) Between 1974 and 1980 a surge of impressive creations appeared which were presented world wide, amongst them Density 21,5; The Architects; This, That and the Other; Slow, Heavy and Blue; Trio ...

Carolyn had organised master classes in the Paris Opera House, open classes in improvisation and composition which strongly influenced the generation of young choreographers in the 1980's. From 1980 to 1985 she moved to Venice and created Undici, Onde, Underwood...

Writings on Water

Following her four-year absence from the Paris dance stage, her new solo, Writings on Water to the music of Gavin Brayars was created in March 2002 in Venice where Carolyn worked as the director of dance for the Biennale of Venice. Writings on Water was presented in the Theatre da la Ville.

Water, her element is reflected in the fluid of the unique style of movements. Carolyn prefers to refer to this choreography as to a visual poetry rather than the dance. Writings on Water contemplates on the philosophy of life that passes like a river, representing her contribution to the Universe and the Unknown.