My art

My practice sits on the edge of Theatre, Dance and Visual Art.

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My lineage is in the field of new dance and somatic, experimental performance. I have been particularly influenced by Japanese Butoh, Skinner Releasing Technique and other Somatic movement methodologies - and Buddhist thought & practice. I live on an old farm at the edge of the wild, and in 18 years I have learnt a lot from the daily encounter with what I call the ‘march of the wild’ – the tension and balance of our effort and nature’s force.

In all my work, be it with the independent choreographers I have collaborated with to create performances, or groups of children, or those who have suffered a Stroke….I seek to touch a tender listening through the senses. I encourage and allow a flow of responses and transformation in the body, unhindered by the usual social norms/masks. Images and meanings come up that are pre-verbal and unique to each individual. With somatic embodiment, simple choreographic scores and the philosophy of non-striving, I see a natural grace emerge in people as they move, connecting with their inner life of sensation and imagination. Seeing and being seen empowers us. When we meet ourselves and each other’s worlds with curiosity and humanity, powerful and deeply meaningful images appear.

Biography in brief

Eeva-Maria 

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is a Finnish performer, maker and community dance leader based in Wales since 2002.

She trained initially at LAMDA 1989-92, and has since continued her professional development in dance and somatic movement work gaining qualifications to teach

‘Body and Earth’ and ‘Space Dance’ /New Butoh work, to deliver the Touch Trust programme and the Youth Mindfulness 8 week programme.

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Since the 1990’s she has been performing internationally in dance theatre & film, site specific works, cross art form improvisations, cinema and TV in the UK and Finland.

She works with people of all ages and abilities, including Creative Dance with children, parent & child Movement Play, young people with disabilities, adults with learning disabilities, and the elderly in care home settings.

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Current performance projects include:  Pneuma by Miranda Tufnell, Sylvia Hallett and David Ward touring again in 2021, North-Hidden Behind Darkness  in development with

Gaby Agis and Titta Court and  Lady of the Lake  with Michael Harvey and Stacey Blythe for Beyond the Border Wales International Storytelling Festival 2021. 

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Eeva works with her husband Andy Paget to provide a rural creative retreat at 

p e n p y n f a r c h: Between 2003-2010 she designed and co-ordinated an annual training programme   Body, Movement, Environment  and they continue to rent out studio and accommodation to artists from all over the world. Currently Eeva and Andy are developing their work as  'this is somatic'  focussing on an on-going practice of  Embodying Change .

Eeva feels passionately about the importance of sensory experiences and creative opportunities for all, for learning, health and happiness. Sustainability education starts with ourselves, our own bodies.

links to selected performance works

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www.facebook.com/thisissomatic/

www.penpynfarch.co.uk

Performing images