Dialogue:
Ulla Koivisto & Mary Prestidge
Thu 16.3.2023 at 16.30–17.30
Language: English
Free of charge
Eskus
Kaasutehtaankatu 1, Building nr. 6, Puhdistamo Helsinki
A conversation, reflecting on a few things…
Ulla and Mary met in New York in 1975. Their dance interests and friendship grew from that time, mostly in UK and Finland with multiple exchanges between the two.
“…We continue to reflect experiences of working as independent artists, then and now; the influences; the significant moments and the people and contexts that we had the privilege to encounter and be a part of”.
Ulla Koivisto (born 11 August 1950) is a Finnish dancer, choreographer and dance teacher. One of the pioneers of Finnish contemporary dance, Ulla Koivisto began her studies at Riitta Vainio's modern dance studio in Helsinki in 1972, then studied dance at the Stockholm Ballet Academy and in New York with Merce Cunningham and music with John Cage from 1974 to 1978.
Mary Prestidge’s professional dance career has spanned 6 decades. Her first dance work was with Ballet Rambert in the early 1970’s.
It was during a study period in New York in 1974 that Mary first met Ulla Koivisto. Mary made frequent visits to Finland during the 1980’s teaching at the Theatre School, Helsinki as well as offering workshops in New Dance (principally Contact Improvisation) to dance professionals and the growing independent dance and artist community there. Ulla later directed ‘Maryland’ as part of a series of solos Ulla was creating for older dancers. This work for Mary toured in the UK, Finland and Sweden in 2004-2006.
Back in London after New York Mary and other dance artists co-founded X6 Dance Space 1976-1979 and its successor Chisenhale Dance. These artist led initiatives created a much desired and needed context for research into new dance forms and new ways of presenting work.
Based in Liverpool since 1995 Mary was key in the development of a dance programme at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). Since 2008 she and three other Liverpool dance artists founded a small studio, LIC (Liverpool Improvisation Collective) Studio. As a group they continue to develop strategies and contexts for performance and artist exchange within the region and beyond. Individually they share and facilitate dance and performance in diverse settings and communities.
The conversation is part of SpaceP_EBody event.
Photos: Ulla Koivisto, Brian Roberts