Kari Sylwan (born 15 October 1940) is a Swedish actress, dancer, ballet teacher, and choreographer. Sylwan started as a dancer in 1956 at the
Royal Swedish Ballet and at the
Cullberg Ballet. At both companies she danced leading parts, for example the title roles in Birgit Cullberg's
The Lady from the Sea, based on Ibsen's play, and her adaptation of Strindberg's
Miss Julie. Sylwan later acted in the
Ingmar Bergman films
Cries and Whispers and
Face to Face. 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 in Stockholm. In 2005 she was awarded the
H. M. The King's Medal of the 12th order for her contributions to dance.