Kari Sylwan is a Swedish actress, dancer, ballet teacher, and choreographer. Sylwan started as a dancer in 1956 at the Royal Swedish Ballet

Royal Swedish Ballet

The Royal Swedish Ballet is one of the oldest ballet companies in Europe. Based in Stockholm, Sweden, King Gustav III founded the ballet in 1773 as a part of his national cultural project in response to the French and Italian dominance in this field; he also founded the Royal Swedish Opera and the...

 and at the Cullberg Ballet

Cullberg Ballet

The Cullberg Ballet is a Swedish contemporary dance company.It was founded by the modern dancer and pioneer choreographer Birgit Cullberg in 1967, who brought it to fame...

. At both companies she danced leading parts, for example the title role in Cullberg's The Lady from the Sea

The Lady from the Sea

The Lady from the Sea is a play written in 1888 by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen.Kvinnan från havet is a ballet by choreographer Birgit Cullberg, and based on Ibsen's play...

, based on Ibsen's play, and The Earth in Balanchine's The Four Elements. She later played in the Ingmar Bergman

Ingmar Bergman

Ernst Ingmar Bergman was a Swedish director, writer and producer for film, stage and television. Described by Woody Allen as "probably the greatest film artist, all things considered, since the invention of the motion picture camera", he is recognized as one of the most accomplished and...

 films Cries and Whispers

Cries and Whispers

Cries and Whispers is a 1972 Swedish film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman and starring Harriet Andersson, Kari Sylwan, Ingrid Thulin and Liv Ullmann. The film is set on a mansion at the end of the 19th century and is about two sisters who watch over their third sister on her deathbed, torn...

and Face to Face

Face to Face (1976 film)

Face to Face is a 1976 Swedish film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. It tells the story of a psychiatrist who is suffering from a mental illness. It stars Liv Ullmann and Erland Josephson. The film was screened at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival, but was not entered into the main competition...

. With dancer Karin Thulin, Sylwan created the two-person company Kari och Karin ("Kari and Karin"), touring in Sweden and also appearing on television. 1996 to 2005 she was the vice-chancellor of the University College of Dance

Danshögskolan

The University of Dance and Circus is a Swedish institution offering higher education in the fields of dance education, folk dance, dance, dance therapy, historical dance, choreography and contemporary circus. It operates under the Ministry of Education, and is the only independent university or...

 in Stockholm. In 2005 she was awarded the H. M. The King's Medal

H. M. The King's Medal

H. M. The King's Medal , earlier known as the Court Medal , is an honour that may be bestowed on Swedish citizens.-Honour:...

 of the 12th order for her contributions to dance.

Filmography

• Skulden (1982) (TV series)
• Barnens ö (1980)
• Cries and Whispers
  Cries and Whispers
  Cries and Whispers is a 1972 Swedish film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman and starring Harriet Andersson, Kari Sylwan, Ingrid Thulin and Liv Ullmann. The film is set on a mansion at the end of the 19th century and is about two sisters who watch over their third sister on her deathbed, torn...
  
  (1972)
• Face to Face
  Face to Face (1976 film)
  Face to Face is a 1976 Swedish film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. It tells the story of a psychiatrist who is suffering from a mental illness. It stars Liv Ullmann and Erland Josephson. The film was screened at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival, but was not entered into the main competition...
  
  (1976)
• Sängkammartjuven (1959) (uncredited)
• Möten i skymningen (1957) (uncredited)
• Suss gott (1956)

External links