Time, being, discourse: Elements of professional friendship in the collaboration between a costume designer and a choreographer

Abstract

This article examines joint creation in contemporary performance making by analysing the collaboration between two prominent Finnish artists – costume designer Karoliina Koiso-Kanttila and choreographer Carl Knif. Using personal interviews along with performance analysis framed in relation to the Aristotelian term ‘friendship’ as components of this case study, the author draws conclusions from the process of a solo performance and its costume that foregrounds elements of friendship: sharing time, being and discourse. Viewing this relational understanding between parties as an asset, this study introduces elements of a positive approach and tools to achieve such in the making of dance performance.