Mirva Mäkinen graduated (MA) from the Dance Department of the Theatre Academy of Finland in 2000, before that she did masters of Physical Education from University of Jyväskylä. 2010 she start to do PHD studies in Theatre Academy in Helsinki, her research is about Somaesthetics of Contact Improvisation. From 2000 onwards she has been a dance teacher, choreographer and lecturer for dance at the Kallio Upper Secondary School of Performing Arts. She has been teaching in several international dance and contact improvisation festivals. Mirva is working at the moment with Dance company Karttunen Kollektiv, New Circus Company Circo Aereo and with choreographer Joona Halonen. Collaboration with Antonio Alemanno, Frey Faust, Joerg Hassmann and Ilona Kenova has been influencing her way of dancing.

In dance I am interested in the feeling of flow and soft movement. I love to investigate movement, its rhythm and different ways of inhabiting the body. A feeling of dancing is created by being able to switch the body from total relaxation to extreme intensity and tension. I call this the body’s ability to breathe and create movement. My ideal is total presence, which makes every moment true
and meaningful.

Every Instant is eternal

Perfect timing in Contact Improvisation is being able to “let go” and allow yourself to express your feelings through your movements. Usually, when you achieve perfect timing, your dancing will appear relaxed and natural and your body will be fully aware of its place in contact.
There are useful tools how to use momentum while dancing Contact Improvisation with other dancers. We will explore momentum in movement and also slow flow.
… in general, I am curious to find tools that help us to dance contact Improvisation and to improvise. I love to find ways to keep our mind curious and playful. My interest is to create an alive dancing dialogue by using touch, movement, weight and balance. What kind of details can we find from dance by listening to the every instant, – an instant that can be eternal? I love to find details in dance and feel that every moment is equally important.
During this workshop there will be live music by Antonio Alemanno. Music will be part of this workshop as practice to inspire and awaken the awareness in the body and in the present moment.