Carl Knif (Master of Arts) is a dancer, choreographer, director and the founder of Carl Knif Company. He founded his own company in 2012 in Helsinki to serve as a base for his artistic work. His goal was to produce original and high-quality new Finnish contemporary dance.
Since its beginning Carl Knif Company has risen to the forefront of Finnish dance with a blend of highly recognisable narratives and virtuoso dancing. The themes of the pieces are frank, personal, and fearlessly bare yet mercifully poetical. The works’ straightforward nature, which arises from a profound artistic sensitivity and a strikingly well-conceived visuality, makes the pieces memorable.
Some of the works are non-verbal and based on the power of movement and dance while some are more theatrical in nature. The works fit into various genres, skilfully combining both dance and theatre.
Knif has created some 30 pieces for his company and carried out co-productions and commissioned works for theaters and dance houses. His artistic work has gained also international interest, with tours in 10 countries so far.
Knif was awarded the State Price for Performing Arts in 2016, and in 2022 he received a prize from the Society of Swedish Literature in Finland for the dramaturgy of August Strindberg’s A Dream Play.
Carl Knif Company was one of three finalists of the Theatre of the Year Award in 2023.
Carl Knif Company is represented at Tanzmesse by Marjo Pyykönen.
Website: carlknifcompany.com