BIOgraphy
ELLA CHRISTINA FISKUM is the Artistic Director of Ella Fiskum Danz. Fiskum comes from Trondheim, Norway, and studied at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts (1988-1990); privately under Natalia Papina in St. Petersburg, Russia and Oslo (1990-1991); and at the John Cranko-Schule, Staatliche Ballettakademie in Stuttgart, Germany (1991-1992). Using her technical foundation in dance and choreography, Fiskum’s creative work explores heightening the classical ballet vocabulary, and has broadened into the production of large-scale multidisciplinary spectacle. Her approach is grounded in the visual and cinematic experience, and has gained critical acclaim in venues outside of the traditional dance milieu.
Fiskum is currently developing “part three” of a triptych solo dance performance entitled
“TRIPTYCK 2811″. An excerpt of part three, “In Heaven in Hell”, was premiered at a showing at the Dillon Gallery in New York City on December 1st, 2010. The previous solos are entitled “Seduced by Unreality”, and “Untitled Star”.
“The Net of Pas de Deux,” in collaboration with XPROARTS (Sudesh Adhana), was a successful
ELLA FISKUM DANZ production utilizing the invention of a suspended net rigged at a 19 degree angle. The piece was shown in India and Iceland, and various festivals throughout Norway. It was also selected by The National Touring Theatre Company of Norway (Riksteatret) to tour 24 cities within Norway. Fiskum’s site-specific duet entitled “Fishing for Love” (2010) and “Fishing for Love – live edition” (2011) also in collaboration with Sudesh Adhana, were presented at the Festival of Sound in Oslo (May 2010). The North of Norway International Festival in Harstad (2011), Vestfold International Festival (2011), and The Risør Festival of Chamber Music (2011)
In 2009, Fiskum created four site-specific performance installations through vigorous workshops with artists of multiple backgrounds: “Murder in Dreamland,” for the opening of Arena Vestfossen; “Murder in the Urban Heart” and “Exit Dreamland”, for the Coda International Dance Festival; and “Dreamland”, for the Elvelangs Festival in Oslo.
Fiskum has a diverse portfolio of commissioned works. In March 2010, she was commissioned to choreograph and perform a solo dance for the opening and closing of The Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters anniversary gala, which also featured renowned actress and director Liv Ullmann. She was commissioned by the St. Olav Festival in Trondheim to choreograph, and later direct, two church operas entitled “Madonna Furiosa” (2005 & 2006) and “Sancta Birgitta” (2008). Both operas premiered at the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim and toured Reykjavik, Iceland, and Nuuk, Greenland. In addition to her experience with the operatic stage, Fiskum was asked to choreograph a new play, “En Palestinsk Reise,” (2008) at Trøndelag Theater produced by Noor Productions. Additional commissioning institutions include: Ballet Laboratory at the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet; Oslo Concert Hall; Trondheim Chamber Music Festival; 1000 Years Anniversary in Trondheim, Stavanger Speculum; Intensive Choreographic Workshop in Edmonton, Canada; and the Norwegian Seaman’s Church in New York.
From 1991-2011, Fiskum has worked as a dancer with the following choreographers and companies: a.o. Maria Lloyd, Emilia Adelöw; Ingun Bjørnsgaard Project; Louise Bédard Danse; Oslo Dance Ensemble; Sølvi Edvardsen; Dans Design; Kjersti Engebrigtsen; Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK); The National Theatre of Norway; and The National Touring Theatre Company of Norway. She has toured in Norway, Germany (Kampnagel, Fabrik Potsdam, Ludwig-Forum), Belgium (The Monty), Denmark (Dansescenen), England (The Place), Canada (Maison de la Culture Mercier, Circuit-Est, The Firehall Art Centre), India (Kamani Auditorium), Iceland (Nordic House), and Russia (Baltic House).
Ella Fiskum Danz’ projects have been funded by Art Council Norway, Fond for Utøvende Kunstnere, Fond for Lyd og Bilde, NordScen, Nordisk Kulturfond, Oslo Kommune, Trondheim Kommune, Royal Norwegian Embassy in India, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Island, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Denmark, N.A.P.A. Nordens Institut i Grønland, Nordens Hus Island, STIKK, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture.