Age, education, where you were born and where do You live?
I am 34, I was born in Tallinn and thats my education: Universität der Künste Berlin - Socio-economic communications, Tallinn University / choreography, dance, dance pedagogy.
When and why you became interested in performing?
I think since I was a kid. Then I think at some point I was on it again at like 14-17 years old, but I didn´t think about it as my future profession. Still, when I graduated, I decided to try dancing. I couldn't anything else I would have wanted to do, tbh.
How your relationship with your craft/talent has changed through the years?
A lot actually, within past few years I have started to feel way more confident in myself and in my ideas. I define myself as an artist - this took some time to accept - and I think actually my whole career made a U turn after i graduated my new MA in Berlin. Somehow everything started to make sense, I started to concetrate on what I love and also I decided that from now on I will only put out works that I am passionate about and that have high technical quality. Also I started to work way more on aesthetics: those also got unlocked for me at the same time.
Alter egos, why we need them?
Honestly, for me this just happened. I wasn´t thinking that I am going to create myself an alter ego. Fluxxious as character was born in social media, then it moved on to the real life stages. She is a child of internet so all about her is very extreme. I guess I figured out that just plain normal Lydia is not interesting enough for nowadays intense virtual environments. Also myself I can´t be bothered to be just Lydia all the time. And then again, Fluxxious and Flex are so very exhausting, I cant’be like that all the time:) Bot are too extroverted.
Switching between Fluxxious and Lydia, what it requires from you?
Fluxxious is on stage. Lydia is at home. But if we talk about where these ideas come from, then they are Lydia´s ideas, Fluxxious takes a stage to live them out. Although I do sometimes go on stage as Lydia too, mostly if I need to do something directly political (for example in Berlin I just participated at artists' protest evening about culture funds being cut, and I didi it as Lydia, because I felt it has to be this way.) Although my ideas about Fluxxious and fetish were still there, I performed them as Lydia, without the mask and not wearing latex. Fluxxious is always wearing a latex hood, heavy harness and stuff like that. Fluxxious works more with aesthetics, it is more entertaining and is a better fit for some contexts than Lydia. And Fluxxious definitely dances more.
Is latex gear easy to wear?
Not really. Store-bought hoods are hard to pull off longer than couple of hours, custom-made ones are more comfortable. Shorter bodys are easier to handle, catsuits are more of a challenge. It just gets unbearably hot at some point, you start sweating ungodly amounts of fluids.
Biggest creative career lessons so far?
Do not choreograph choreographies you don´t like. Do not work with unprofessional or bad people.
Biggest accomplishments and flops so far?
I think Fluxxious is my biggest accomplishment so far. I'm even a bit surprised how far it has reached and how the character got so developed. Luckily I haven´t had too many flops so far. Maybe in general, when I was younger I was kinda more lazy. But I changed that attitude and everything changed with it.
What made you successful in such a competitive field as performative art?
I don´t know. Maybe this that i’ve kept doing what i am doing. Also kept thinking and growing inside, constantly learning new things and skills. Moving to Berlin. Putting out there only the work that I really love.
Describe Your first visit to Berlin?
Well it was pretty lifechanging. I went there on New Years Eve, went to Berghain and met my current partner in front of the DJ booth while Marcel Dettmann was playing. We are together still:)
How Your typical day looks?
No typical days really, they all are different. When I rehearse for a project I am spending lot of time in the studio. When I don´t, I spend lot of time at home with my cats. I cook, read, watch TV, go to parties. ButI always go to gym tho!ugh and I always eat well:)
What fuels you creatively?
Good mood, endorphins, going out to dance (partying), talking with my friends, watching social media, and thinking, thinking, thinking. I am a big thinker. This is how all the ideas come. Also fashion and design inspire me. Travelling always feels good too.
Do you care about critique, is it easy to take in for you? Your biggest supporters Whose advice you listen to?
I have people whose advice I always listen to. In general, critique is not that difficult for me, still sometimes it really can get me. I am not quite sure, what is it exactly that makes it sting, but I think if someone is just mean or comments on something that is very personal to me, then it is harder to take it calmly. I hate gossip, and also when I see, that people haven't even tried to understand me. That is just so pointless.
What is the hardest to get right while working on a show?
Well, I always wear very difficult clothing or need spedific technical solutions. So for half of the rehearsal process or sometimes even with no rehearsal at all, I have to imagine how it actually will work with all these details coming together. I have to be so sure in my head, how everything will work out. So yes, some stuff I only get to rehears in my head, there is no space for testing things out sometimes. That´s very difficult, this skill comes with experience.
Who do you look up to in Your field?
I look up to people who have clever ideas, who work hard and who are kind.
Upcoming show, what is it about and how You came up with an idea?
Flex is a story of a person, who searches for perfection within herself and in the room she is in. Constantly growing and changing herself according to a situation. Coming up constantly with new ideas and solutions how to be more independent and stronger.
The idea have been boiling in me for a long time. I think I am just this sort of person myself. I think in very core level, its about me:) But that is a secret! Maybe not:) Actually, it could be about anyone.
How collaborative are you, is it easy for You to work in team or You are better off alone?
I am very collaborative. Sometimes it’s just easier to work alone but with a big project as Flex is, I could not do it alone. I need a team. Team is everything. I actually was thinking the other day, that it doesn't feel like solo, because all the people in the team are so important to this project.
Social media, how you feel about it?
Well, its exhausting but I also like it :)
Are you affraid of ageing and failing physically?
Getting older no, but I´m affraid of physical traumas that can come with the job, take a lot of time to recover from and may permanentely damage your physical body.
Are you a practical person or more of a dreamer?
I am both. I am very practical and then a sometimes I get lost in dreaming. I feel past years I've been dreaming less. More you do, less you have time for dreaming.
Ways to relax?
Training, bath, watching some random youtubers, cooking, taking care of cats
Tell Trickster a s ghost story or a joke.
Last night I dreamt about death.
What would you do if You woke up as a invisible, knowing it will only last for one day?
I think maybe I would go to places where I am not allowed like boys dressing-rooms or smth, haha! But I´m affraid it would actually not fullfill my expectations. Maybe will check out the meetings where I should not be and so on. Spy around for a bit!
“Flex” comes to life with a help of author, director, choreographer Üüve-Lydia Toompere, playwright Siim Tõniste, light artist Mikk-Mait Kivi, sound artist Kenn-Eerik Kannike, set designer Niina-Anneli Kaarnamo.
Supported by Cultural Endownment of Estonia.
Thanks to Tarvo Porroson.