The artistic council is an advisory body for the artistic director at Dansens Hus, Stine Nilsen. The council meets twice a year, after the application deadlines for programming at Dansens Hus. They review all applications for Norwegian guest performances and co-productions, and make a recommendation that the artistic director then uses in her work to determine the artistic repertoire.
The Artistic Council consists of:
Sarjo Sankareh
is a professional Dancer, dance teacher and choreographer residing in Oslo. He completed his BA in dance and Pedagogy at the Norwegian College of Dance (NDH) in 2012, post graduate studies at Oslo Academy of arts (KHIO), Ricks Odums school in Paris (IFPRO) and Horton teacher training at Alvin Ailey school New York. As a freelance artist Sarjo has worked with dance companies such as Cie Choreonyx (Bruce Taylor), Cie George Momboye, Ko Murobushi & Edge and Tabanka Dance Ensemble . Sarjo has also completed his MA in dance studies at Norwegian University of Science and technology and working as a freelancer in Oslo and abroad.
Irene Vesterhus Theisen
is a dancer and curator. Since 2013, she has been a dancer in Carte Blanche. In parallel, she has created her own works and helped build up the performing arts field in her hometown of Kristiansand. Curating is her main artistic practice alongside the performing. She is particularly interested in collective curation and the artist's perspective as a curator. Together with the collective behind Ravnedans festival, she has run the festival in Kristiansand for the past fifteen years, and with the curatorial duo theisen/pettersen. She has curated guest performance series for Kristiansand Kunsthall and Teateret.
Eva Martinez
is a performing arts curator, producer, dramaturge and coach, most recently Artistic Programmer at Sadler’s Wells (2013-2020) where she supported the new generation of UK based artists. She was Dance and Performance programmer at Southbank Centre, London and at Dance4, Nottingham. A sought-after collaborator with an extended international network, she is known for her facilitative approach, championing experimentation and equity. Notable collaborations include dramaturgy for Siobhan Davies, Hetain Patel & Alexandra Waierstall. She is a certified life coach (ICF) focusing on female leadership and sustaining creative careers.
Sebastian Tjørstad
has extensive experience as a performing artist for 15 years, as a comedian, dancer and actor. Tjørstad has worked on stage at The National Theatre, Latter, HumorNieu and Black Box teater. He has also toured with dance and stand-up musicals for young audiences with The Cultural Rucksack in Viken and Nordland. Sebastian has worked for CODA Oslo International Dance Festival as inclusion- and dissemination coordinator. He is passionate about performing arts for and by everyone.