Truly Madly
A New adaptation of Giselle called Truly Madly with Premier 18 September. This production will arrive In Uppsala on the 3 December to the 11 December at Gottsunda Dans och Teater.
Both evening are day performances for schools are on offer during this period.
L’Autre Moite du Songe, a project inspired by the poetry of the young French poet Alicia Gallienne recited by the famous French actor Guillaume Gallienne with Choreography by Clairemarie Osta and Joseph Sturdy opens the first part of this premier evening.
A homage to this talented young French poet who’s words transcend the boundaries of language through the power of words and the moving body.
Cooperation Partners
Focus Dance
Dans I Nord
Uppsala Kommun
French Institutet
National Museum Stockholm
Gottsunda Dans Och Teater
Kultur Punkten.
https://ifsuede.com/lautre-moitie-du-songe-un-projet-de-danse/
Back on stage: the new premiere of My Lake at Gottsunda Dans Och Teater in Uppsala
From the 20 November until the 12 December Focus Dance is back on stage in Uppsala at Gottsunda Dans Och Teater with a new premier of My Lake inspired by the Russian Composer Tchaikovsky fate, with Music of Swan Lake and Jerome Marchand and 5 dancers that take us through the labyrinth that is Tchaikovskys mind.
Broken Skin was created last season and was unable to meet an audience due to the pandemic instead it was filmed by the director Fredrik Sattin and now has its premiere in the new filmed version. The cast includes Richard Asker as Enoch Powell, and dancers
Jerome Marchand, Anthony Ljumlio, Noelle Guinoo Deriada.
For more information please visit
www.gottsundateater.com
Joseph Sturdy has created a new work för the Royal Swedish Ballet SONATRA
Now available on operanplay.se until June.
Take part in the Premier conversation between Nicolas La Riche/Artistic director of The Royal Swedish Ballet and Joseph Sturdy.
Fotograf Carl Thorborg
BROKEN SKIN WORLD PREMIER 21 NOVEMBER
När koreografen Joseph Sturdy skapar verket Broken Skin utgår han från Enoch Powells tal ”Rivers of Blood” från 1968 som delade en nation i två delar, men som fortfarande ekar, inte bara i Storbritannien, utan även stora delar av Europa, där den populistiska retoriken fått ett allt starkare fäste under det senaste decenniet. Genom att plocka ut ett specifikt tillfälle i historien som starkt påverkade en stor del av samväldets befolkning, vill Sturdy belysa de sår rasismen river upp i den mänskliga kroppen och själen.
Detta är en skrämmande uppgift. Kan vi över huvud taget överföra smärtan, ilskan och sorgen från världen runt omkring oss på den mänskliga kroppen på scenen? Dansens förmåga att uttrycka abstrakta och emotionella tillstånd, snarare än att berätta en konkret historia, kan kanske hjälpa oss att se obekväma sanningar istället för att fly från dem. Kanske kan teatern utgöra en säker och bekväm plats för att utforska det obekväma.
See info at gottsundateater.com for availability of tickets due to Covid restrictions. All tickets must be pre-booked.
2020 Update
Due to the major disruption from the Covid-19 Pandemic we are unfortunately unable to follow through our spring 2020 projects a new work inspired by the emotionally charged and raw imagery of Francis Bacon the Irish born British figurative painter .
The time instead is being used for research and planning for 2 new works upcoming works in the autumn autumn 2020 to performed in Uppsala in October and November.
Although Sweden has not been in full lockdown as other European countries, there are still restrictions in place such as social distancing and limitations on public gatherings and events.
During the spring 2020 I have been guest teaching at the Royal Swedish Ballet ,Cullberg ,and Scapino Ballet ,whilst teaching at The royal Swedish Balett School and Svenska Ballet skolan .Some of these classes are conducted online in accordance to the rekommendations in place in Sweden .
Im looking forward to meeting our dancers and audience in the new season 2020 where hopefully we can start with the all important live performances and interactions with the public .Until then under Vimeo links a selection of works are available to watch .
Joseph Sturdy Artistic Director
Välkommen till en kväll med dans i världsklass!
En kväll – tre dansstycken. Under tre kvällar ger Focus Dance två akter av explosiv, finstämd och högklassig dans. Med dansare från olika delar av Europa och USA, tillsammans med unga dansare från Kungliga Svenska Balettskolan, får vi en föreställning om kamp, makt, frihet, närhet och ensamhet.
DISTURBANCE & MACBETH
Koreografi Joseph Sturdy
30 nov – 7 dec
DISTURBANCE
I. I detta explosiva dansstycke ser vi fem unga människor röra sig i en osäker värld som hela tiden verkar förändras, en värld där du ena stunden är en del av något stort och nästa stund står ensam kvar. De rör sig mellan makt och maktlöshet, protest och tystnad, fångenskap och frihet, isolering och gemenskap.
II. Det ligger i människans natur att söka mänsklig kontakt. Vi kräver och behöver det. Men hur mycket vi än närmar oss varandra kommer vi samtidigt alltid att vara ensamma.
“Stycket kommer från mitt intresse för det mänskliga, och kroppens förmåga att illustrera detta. Enkla, bekanta rörelser kan väcka historier, minnen och känslor hos oss. De kan få oss att se oss själva i någon annan, och skapa en kontakt mellan oss.”
Joseph Sturdy, koreograf
MACBETH
Vad skulle du göra om du fick veta att ditt liv är förutbestämt? Att du kommer få att makten. Att du kommer att döda. Och att du till sist kommer att förlora allt.
Joseph Sturdys (Focus Dance) uppsättning av Macbeth tar avstamp ifrån Shakespeares drama, men fokuserar på människan Macbeth – en maktgalen person som sakta men säkert tappar kontrollen över både sitt eget liv och den värld han har skapat runt omkring sig.
Macbeth tar oss på en magisk men olustig resa genom samvetskval, relationer, makt och kriminalitet. Vi möter människor som inser att de har gjort något hemskt, och får följa dem på en balansgång mellan politiskt maktspel, moral och mänsklig sårbarhet.
Koreografen Joseph Sturdys danstolkning av Shakespeares ”Macbeth” är effektfull och ödesmättad.
UNT
Dessa tidlösa och universella teman som Shakespeares pjäs gestaltar är lika aktuella idag som de var för 400 år sedan när pjäsen skrevs, och det är de teman som inspirerat Joseph Sturdy att sätta upp Macbeth som dansföreställning.
Produktion: Focus Dance i samarbete med Gottsunda Dans & Teater
Koreografi: Joseph Sturdy
På scen: Arsen Mehrabyan, Sophie Flannery Prune Vergères, Emilia Fridholm, Max Levy samt praktikanter från Kungliga Svenska Balettskolan
Foto: Kerstin Helsing
Affisch: Gustav Uddgård
Längd: ca 2 timmar (inkl. paus)
Föreställningen genomförs med stöd av Uppsala kommun
SPELTIDER
Lördag 30 november kl. 18.00
Torsdag 5 december kl. 19.00
Lördag 7 december kl. 18.00
Varmt välkomna!
New work by Joseph Sturdy – 2019
- Lachrimae – A new work created by Joseph Sturdy for the Royal Swedish Ballet School, 4-6th of April, 2019.
- Ophelia Complex- A new work created by Joseph Sturdy for the Royal Swedish Ballet School, 24-25th of May & 9th June, at the Royal Opera House in Stockholm, 2019.
- New work – Working name: Puzzle +tour, available dates coming soon.
- Shakespeare’s Macbeth – Returns to Uppsala, Gottsunda dans & teater, 26th of November to 7th December, 2019.
Tickets available: gottsundadansteater.com
Macbeth – 2018
Shakespeare’s Macbeth 2018, by Joseph Sturdy.
Gottsunda Dans & Teater 24 nov-8dec 2018
Vimeo Links
Premiärsamtal med Joseph Sturdy
Anthony Lomuljo Broken Skin solo by Joseph Sturdy
Macbeth – Full version – 2019
Shakespeares Macbeth Full version by Joseph Sturdy.
Dancers: Mathilde van de wiele, Malcom Sutherland, Sophie Flannery Prue Verges.
Babel
“The burden of longing and knowing that deep inside the hearts of each and everyone of us we are all always reaching for a place that we can call home.” – The poet JJ Bola
Babel is inspired by the epic migration of people happening in Europé today.
During the autumn 2016 Focus Dance cooperated with Gottsunda Dans och Teater Sweden, in producing this work.
Exquisite Virtues
Exquisite virtues Trio Hamlet Ophelia, Polonius.
Gala 2015 .
Cruel Whispers
Cruel Whispers ,inspired by Hans Christian Andesens The ugly duckling 2011.
Metamorphosis
Metamorphosis, inspired by The short novel by Franz Kafka Of The same name.
Full Evening Hamlet
Full Evening Hamlet 2011 for The Chemnitz Opera Ballet Germany.
Autumn 2018 – Shakespeares Macbeth
The upcoming new production autumn 2018 is Shakespeares Macbeth .
Over the past the seasons Joseph Sturdy has BEEN INSPIRED BY Shakespeares tragedies
Hamlet ,Othello ,and King Lear have been performed to critical acclaim .Continuing on the Shakespearian theme it is Macbeth shakespeare’s shortest and most fast moving tragedy
that will premier in November 2018 in cooperation with Gottsunda Dans och Teater .
Human frailty ,Political Relevance and social morality make Shakespeares works as relevant today as when they we’re written .
- Truly Madly 2022 Focus Dance
- My Lake 2021 Focus Dance
- SONATRA 2021 Royal Swedish Ballet
- Broken Skin 2020 Focus Dance
- Disturbance 1 2019 - Focus Dance
- Disturbance 2 2019 - Focus Dance
- Ophelia Complex: 2019 - Created for the Royal Swedish Ballet School
- Lachrimae: 2019 - Created for the Royal Swedish Ballet School
- Shakespeare's Macbeth: 2018
- Petrushka: 2018
- BABEL: 2016 Focus Dance
- Migration: 2015 - Created for the Royal Swedish Ballet School
- The Metamorphosis/Förvandlingen 2015 - in corporation with Dans i Nord & Focus Dance
- Ingenmansland 2014 - to mark the centenary of the outbreak of world war one: in cooperation with Dans i Nord and Focus Dance
- Myriad minded, Shakespeare: 2014, in cooaperation with Focus Dance and Gottsunda Dans och Teater
- Virtues: 2014 Focus Dance and Dala Sinfoniettan
- 7/7: 2014 Norrdans
- The Bolero Project: 2013/in Cooperation with Dans I uppland
- Shakespear’s The Tempest: 2013
- Strindbergs’s Fadren 2012 Focus Dance Untitled Figures: 2012 Focus Dance
- Shifting Focus: 2012 Focus Dance celebrates 15 years
- The Greenhouse Dance Project ,introdans 2: 2012/in cooperation with Dans I Uppland
- The Greenhouse Dance Project, Introdans 1: 2011/in cooperation with Dans I Uppland
- Rough Cuts: 2011 Focus Dance
- Cuel Whispers: 2011 Focus Dance
- Hamlet: Full Length 2011 Chemnitz Opera Ballet
- Shakespeares King Lear: 2009 Focus Dance
- The Emperor’s new clothes: 2009 Focus Dance
- Tabula Rasa: 2008 Focus Dance ,in cooperation with Talia Paz and The Kibbutz orchestra Isreal
- The rite of spring Stravinsky: 2007 Focus Dance
- Linne´a man for all seasons: 2007 Focus Dance
- The uprooting: 2007 Royal Swedish Ballet school
- Mozarts Women: 2006 Focus Dance and Uppsala Kammarsolister
- Coma: 2005 FocusDance
- ”Quality time and all that”: 2004 Focus Dance
- Beethoven Opus 130: 2004 Focus Dance and Uppsala Kammarsolister
- Shakespeares Hamlet: Full-length 2003 Focusdance
- Shakespeares Othello: Full- length 2002 Focus Dance
- Suppose he’s innocent: 2002 Focusdance
- Vincent Van Gogh: 2000 :Full-length Focus Dance
- I afton Dans 2: 2001 Focus Dance
- I afton Dans 1: 2000 Focus Dance
- The Queen Kristina: 1998 -2000 Focus Dance
Media
- Maggie Foyer, The Metamorphosis, 2015Sturdys choreography is rich and inventive, much of it very physical but balanced with moments of well placed stillness.
- www.dansportalen.se"The amazing thing with "Ingenmansland" is that, between the marching and the killing, Joseph Sturdy's show manages to maintain a spirit of hope, cooperation and reconciliation throughout - even through moments of the blackest humour".
-"Each time I have seen Joseph Sturdy's choreography, the events have been linear and clear, and he renews this narrative style. In "Ingenmansland", I have a sense that all the participants are pushing themselves even further. The result is unbelievably gripping and engaging…. I urge everyone who can to devote 45 minutes of their lives in tribute to the victims and survivors of the war, and at the very least to appreciate how nine super-committed dancers can fuse together to form one body to convey something important."
-"You leave with a remarkable sense of human justice. A work of art cannot lay claim to a higher function than that."
- Anders Rosesund, Dala Tidningen DT, 2012“Esoterically fragile and physically playful” “Physical dance that is breathtaking in its playfulness”
- Sebastian Johans, UNT, 2012“Crackling collage - a super performance” “Incredibly tight performance” “Even with ‘Queen Kristina’, Joseph Sturdy shows he has completely mastered the expressive choreography” “Sturdy does very well at creating accessible, non-exclusive dance, without compromising anything and still putting on a show.” “With firm roots in ballet – yet treated at arm’s length and often mockingly – he includes modern dance as resistance” “He is also very good at using all the available stage space” “An incentive for its necessary continuation”
- Dan Linder, Vestmanlands Läns Tidning, 11 Oct 2011“Joseph Sturdy’s heated staging of the composer's creeping panic in a claustrophobic dance act.” “Ludwig – successful but unhappy”
- Reinhard Oldewerme, freirepresse.de, Nachrichten & Kultur, 2011“Scenic dance theatre in probably its most sublime form” “Explosive, uncompromising language, no exceptions and fascinatingly genuine” “Explosive language” “Genius concept” “gripping experience with unbelievable choreography”
- Reinhard Oldewerme, freirepresse.de, Nachrichten & Kultur, 2011“Scenic dance theatre in probably its most sublime form” “Explosive, uncompromising language, no exceptions and fascinatingly genuine” “Explosive language” “Genius concept” “gripping experience with unbelievable choreography”
- Boris Michael Grohl, tanznetz.de, Feb 2011”Powerful dance theatre that touches on the tragic and the comic”
- Anna Ångström, SvD, 2010“A heartfelt atmosphere gives meaning to the movements” “Beautiful duet; an interplay between clean lines and listening”
- Anna Ångström, SvD [Svenska Dagbladet], April 2009“Sturdy’s work gives hope” The Uprooting
- UNT, 2007, Bo-Ingvar KollbergChoreography which greatly emphasises the harmony and interplay between the dancers
- 4 Nov 2007, UNT [Uppsala Nya Tidning], Christina KarlstamMarie Larsson Sturdy is one of our city’s major cultural profiles
- Lena Andren, Nutida Dans, 2006“It is an appealing performance, with Sturdy allowing the six female leads to really shine.” “an incredibly harmonious performance, with a fine-tuned feel. Essentially, it is á la Mozart.”
- SSL, UNT, 2005“Captures the shattered genius” “Narrated using complex tortuous movements" “The choreography includes both coarse, irrational antics and movements as well as glimpses of dazzling, soft virtuosity" “Divinely gifted dancers with a moving sense of expression” “An intelligent nod to Nijinsky’s own scandalous choreography”
- Lena Andren, Nutida Dans, 2004“Unification of elegance and naivety”
- SSL, UNT, 2004“Biographical and emotionally expressive subject” “The language of the movement is perfectly matched to the music” “Meditative and lyrically mysterious” “Dances up the image of redeemer and spiritual gatherer with grace and sometimes almost acrobatic moves"
- Bo-Ingvar Kollberg, UNT, 2004“Sensual dance about the individual’s rights” “Convincing shape throughout” “A gripping portrait” “Imaginative rehearsal with the individual's right as the overall theme – the high point of the evening” “Satire on society” “A direct hit will be the political irony” “Anyone who wants to be reminded of what a huge asset JS and MLS are for Uppsala’s cultural heritage should not hesitate in going to see it”
- Bo-Ingvar Kollberg, UNT, 2003“give Joseph Sturdy his own stage!” “In Uppsala, Joseph Sturdy has mainly put on full evening performances with a focus on van Gogh, Othello, Hamlet, etc. He has allowed his public to experience what he himself calls ‘the power of dance’. He has also put Uppsala on the map in the dance world”
- SSL, Hedersmedalj [Medal of Honour], 2003“Considerable dedication has made the art of dance accessible in Uppsala” Also add that “she has turned the Rikssalen [Hall of State] in Uppsala castle into a living dance stage”
- SSL, UNT, 2003“A very high class of showmanship”
- Lena Andren, Nutida Dans, Hamlet, 2003“Creates a fascinating solo” “So much more to be said about this interpretation of Hamlet, which needs to be seen by so many more people!”
- Maggie Foyer, Dance Europé, 2003, Hamlet"It was an astutely intelligent production that successfully got under the skin of the text"
- Lena Andren, Nutida Dans, 2003“Impressive production of Hamlet” “Balanced interpretation of one of Shakespeare’s most complex plays” “Artful, clever scenic solutions” “Together, the dancers and the choreography bring to life multi-dimensional and believable individuals trapped in a deathly spiral” “The consistent characterisation of the characters gives the interpretation a strong inner logic”
- Bo-Ingvar Kollberg, UNT, 2003In Uppsala, Joseph Sturdy has mainly put on full evening performances with a focus on van Gogh, Othello, Hamlet, etc. He has allowed his public to experience what he himself calls ‘the power of dance’. He has also put Uppsala on the map in the dance world.
- Maggie Foyer, Dance Europé, 2003, HamletIt was an astutely intelligent production that successfully got under the skin of the text.
- Susanne Sigroth Lambe, 2002, UNT“A playfully portrayed tale" “A successful mixture of humour and grace” “Manages the story well” “Delicate, playful and fun”
- Susanne Sigroth Lambe, UNT, 2002“Extremely skilled dance group captures the delicate moods in Shakespeare’s work”
- Hanna Widegren, Arbetarbladet, 5 Oct 2001“Simultaneously comic and tragic – the conflicted relationship of an artist with his creation is superbly expressed through the language of dance.” Hanna Widegren, Arbetarbladet, 5 Oct 2001
- Susanne Sigroth Lambe, UNT, 2000“Successful portrait of van Gogh” “Easily-accessible and useful dance show” “Fascinating portrait of women”
- Bo-Ingvar Kollberg, 2000, UNT“Absolutely outstanding and thoroughly convincing”
- SSL, UNT, 1999“Strong dance expression” “Emotions and drama in a minimalist environment” “Charged with emotion expressed in perfect bodily movement” “Highly dramatic” “The movements have a dramatic clarity reminiscent of Birgit Cullberg’s dance language, just as many of her dances are easy to interpret and understand; sometimes directly humorous, even with serious subjects.” “You are sucked into the dance performance” “Self-expression fills the stage space with charged content” “A show that is well worth seeing – if you’re interested in dance, do not miss it”
- Ulla Godin, UNT, 1999An abstract artistic idiom which homogeneously combines with the music in a gripping and genuine combination; expressive and truly beautiful.
- SSL, UNT, 1999“Dance with comical and technical brilliance” “Comic entertainment with depth” “Both dancers are technically incredibly gifted, but also possess self-distance, humour and seriousness” “World-class dance that is both excitingly fun and beautiful” “Not a dull moment throughout” “The audience laughed out loud on several occasions” “A dance performance that is both accessible and complex at the same time” “do not miss this opportunity to see an excellent dance”
- Ulla Godin, UNT, 1999“Expressive movements through dance and music” “Expressive body language with major exclamation marks, eloquent” “An abstract artistic idiom which homogeneously combines with the music in a gripping and genuine combination; expressive and truly beautiful”
- Bo-Ingvar Kollberg, UNT, 1998“Very cohesive and with many ingenious touches – a performance with a perceptive musical score" “Psychological portrait of a woman out of step with the demands of her environment"
- Bo-Ingvar Kollberg, UNT, June 1998, 'Queen Kristina'“Thrilling dance artistry” “An exciting, clever and incredibly coherent performance”
- Christina Lundberg, UNT, June 1997“Brilliant world premiere” “Artistically genuine” “Hope there’ll be a sequel”
- Anders Bragsjö, UNT, 1996“Very expressive choreography”
- Tibor Fulep, Nerikes Allehanda, 1996“Grace and elegance”
- Erik Lindqvist, Ergo, 1996“Suggestive and sensual”
-”Experience powerful dance theatre”
- Våroffer [The Rite of Spring]Powerful evening of dance
-“Joseph Sturdy, choreographer and artistic manager of Focus Dance, gave Uppsala residents a powerful artistic experience.”
- Linne; A Man For All SeasonsJoseph Sturdy once again shows how phenomenal he is at telling stories through his choreography.
