Carolyn Carlson was born in California. Her parents are from Finnish descent. After studying ballet, she met Alwin Nicolaпs. She became a member of his troupe in New York and as its emblem, perfumed with this company at home and on tours during seven years. In 1968 she received the prize as a best dancer at the International Dance Festival in Paris.

In 1971 in Paris Carolyn Carlson joined the company of Anne Beranger where she created her first choreography to present it at Festival d'Avignon of 1972. In 1974 Rolf Libermann invited her to the Paris Opera as a choreographer and in 1975 he offered her to run the Group of Theatrical Researches of the Paris Opera. The collaboration with the Paris Opera during the period of 1974-1980 had given an impressive series of 25 works that are being performed throughout the world. They included:«Density 21,5», “The Architects: this, that and other“, “Slow, heavy and blue”, „Trio”.

In 1974 Carolyn Carlson organized the Masterclasses at the Rotonde of the Paris Opera and taught in Paris, Anger, Vienna, at Teatro Piccolo in Milano, in Bolsano, Turin, at Ballet Bejart in Lausanne. In 1980-1985 she choreographed in Venice, at La Fenice: (“Undici Onde“, “Underwood” and a mystic solo „Blue Lady”). From 1985 to 1991 she came again to Paris where she worked fruitfully at the Theatre de la Ville: “Dark“, „Still Waters”. In 1991-1992 Carolyn Carlson lived and worked in Finland (“Elokuu“, „Siskuu”), then for two following years (1994-1995) she headed the Culberg Ballet in Stockholm (Sub Rosa). Among her multiple choreographies several she created for herself: “Blue Lady” (1984), which has been danced in 40 countries; “Vue d'ici”(1995). In 1994 together with Pierre Barnier she founded Atelier de Paris-Carolyn Carlson. This is a ballet company and a centre of masterclasses at the same time. In 2000 produced “Spiritual Warriors“.

She got a number of prizes, including the prize for “Achievements in Music“, and the title of Chevalier des Arts et Lettres and Chevalier of Legion d'Honneur.

The Prize „Benois de la Danse” for choreography was awarded to Carolyn Carlson for „Signes”, which she staged at the Paris Opera in 1998. Carolyn Carlson — dancer, choreographer.

Carolyn Carlson was born in 1943 in California of parents of Finnish origin. She studied dance at the University of Utah and at the San Francisco School of Ballet, where she met Alwin Nikolaïs in 1965. Carlson spent seven years on various tours with his company. In 1968 she was awarded the prize for best dancer at the Paris International Dance Festival.

She then took part in a number of performances in New York with John Davis' company, before accepting Anne Béranger's invitation to work as ballerina and choreographer with the company in Paris. She joined this company in 1971 and created her first piece, Rituel pour un rêve mort (Ritual for a Dead Dream), presented in the courtyard of the Palais des Papes in Avignon in 1972.

Carlson has been in Paris ever since. At the time however she finalised important pieces of choreography such as Six Plus (music by Jean-Luc Ferrari), Enivrez-vous (Inebriate yourselves) and Verfangen (with music by Pierre Henry). Her encounter with Rolf Liebermann in 1974 was a turning point in her career: first she danced solo in Hamburg in 1973 in Klydex I (choreography by Alwin Nikolaïs) produced by Rolf Liebermann; then was invited by the Paris Opéra as star choreographer (choréographe-étoile) and in 1975 he offered her the post of director of the Theatre Research Group (Groupe de Recherches Théâtrales: GRTOP). More than 25 creations followed between 1974 and 1980, including the celebrated Density 21,5 (with music by Edgar Varèse), The Architect, This, that and the other and Slow, heavy and blue.

From 1974 onwards, she introduced the dancers to her improvisation and composition technique during her masterclasses at the rotunda of the Opéra. Larrio Ekson, Caroline Marcadé, Dominique Mercy, Dominique Petit, Quentin Rouillier, Anne-Marie Reynaud, among others attended these open classes.

1980 marked the start of Carlson's time in Venice. She was invited by Italo Gomez to form a dance group for La Fenice, based on the model experimented by GRTOP in Paris. Between 1981 and 1985 the theatre gave her the opportunity to create a number of choreographies that were less abstract and more theatrical, and which toured the world. Among them were Undici onde (Eleven waves, music by Jean Schwarz and René Aubry), Underwood (music by René Aubry) and Blue Lady.

Carolyn Carlson returned to Paris in 1985 and began working with the Théâtre de la Ville, and was appointed Knight of the Order of Arts and Literature by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of France. A series of performances created in Paris followed, and these were presented in both France and overseas during 25 world tours. Among them were Dark, Still Waters etc.

Between 1991 and 1992, Carolyn Carlson lived in Finland (Who Took August (Kuka Vei Elokuun), September (Syskuu), Earth (Maa)), and then directed the Cullberg Ballet in Stockholm during two years from 1994 to 1995.

Amongst all these creations emerged numerous solos. She created some of these for her herself as for instance — Blue Lady in 1984 (mythical piece presented in 40 countries), Vu d?ici (Viewed from Here) in 1995, Writings on Water in 2002 — and others were for dancers such as Nina Hyvärinen, Talia Paz, Marie-Claude Pietragalla, Tero Saarinen.

Between all these creations, she devoted herself to the experience of “improvisation-shows” which she led with her favourite dancers (Larrio Ekson, Jorma Uotinen, Malou Airaudo) and like-minded musicians (Michel Portal, John Surman, René Aubry, Joachim Kuhn, Trilok Gurtu). She also continued to create repertoire pieces for the Ballet of the Paris Opéra (Signes (Signs)), Opéra of Bordeaux (Hydrogen Jukebox) and others.

Appointed Director of the Dance section of the Venice Biennale between 1999 and 2002, Carolyn Carlson created Parabola (1999), Light Bringers (2000), J. Beuys Song (2001) and Writings on water (2002). She also opened a contemporary Dance Academy in Venice (Accademia isola danza) and started a festival.

Founded in La Cartoucherie in 1999, with the support of the City of Paris, the Atelier de Paris-Carolyn Carlson produces and distributes Carolyn Carlson?s choreographies but also welcomes artistes in her studio, and offers masterclasses by choreographers such as Jennifer Müller, Trisha Brown, Suzanne Linke, Ushio Amagatsu, Bill T. Jones, Wim Vandekeybus, Michèle-Anne de Mey, Marie Chouinard, and others. The Atelier de Paris-Carolyn Carlson also presents a festival called June events.

Having won numerous prizes, including the Victoires de la Musique prize for Signes in 1998, Carolyn Carlson was made Chevalier de la Légion d?Honneur by the President of the French Republic in April 2000, and in November 2002 received the Medal of the City of Paris (La Médaille de la Ville de Paris).

Besides her choreographic work, Carolyn Carlson also writes poetry and draws (her book Solo was published in September 2003).