There are painters who have worked with the same material, similar colors and one theme throughout their carrier, for 30 years. There are live artists who work with the imagery of burlesque in each of their work and don’t we all know live artists who work with cutting and bleeding in their art, in every work they do.
After the overwhelmingly positive feedback of soft skin / harsh life and Festive work, I’m left thinking how in contemporary dance or in performance someone can see that as a weakness? That an artist has a style, individual take on a certain theme or subject, a personal way of working she or he has developed over the years? And how many writers there are that in their personal way write about similar issues over and over again, and how that is just fine? What is a personal handwriting of a contemporary dance maker or a performer? And why she or he shouldn’t have one? Why should s/he jump from one aesthetic, method or concept into another in each work?
I am definitely proud of the body of work I have created and yes, there are methods of working I have developed and that I will stick to. There are also certain themes of sensuality and femininity that I will be always working with. And this I see as a strength, not a weakness.

Johanna