Artist and choreographer Maija Hirvanen works in the fields of dance, performance and contemporary art. After her professional education in dance she extended her artistic practice by studying performance, interdisciplinary performing arts (1999-2003) and visual culture (MA in Visual Culture, University of Art and Design Helsinki). Some of her interests include relations of art and different belief systems, performance as collective memory as well as mechanisms of re-learning. To continuously develop the physical practices related to her projects is an essential aspect of Maija’s work. Currently she is working on her new creations Our Democratic Bodies (working title, premiere at Kiasma Theatre, Helsinki, Nov. 2011) and Walkapolis, a series of performance walks.