Episode 58: Won't stop dancing

A conversation with former Skånes Dansteater dancers on how they are defying the prevailing conventions that a dancer’s career ends at 40. Our dancer Sam Denton meets Anette Jellne, Jan Vesala and Laura Cheesman - dancers born in three different decades - in dialouge about the challenges they face to keep dancing for longer, and how the working conditions and practices for dancers have and continue to change to make this happen. This episode features a public talk from the Dance Forever festival, held on November 27 2025.-----Host: Samuel Denton, dancer Skånes DansteaterGuests: Laura Cheesman, Jan Vesala & Anette Jellne, former dancers at Skånes Danstateater 

In this special episode, dance archivist Celine Orman talks with Professor Susan Kozel to explore the intersections of dance, philosophy and digital technologies. Susan’s research in phenomenology, somatics, and responsive technologies has influenced archival practices, including Skånes Dansteater’s project Bevara Rörelse (Maintaining Movement). The conversation delves into the unique ways bodies think and sense, reflecting on themes of perception, attention, and human experience in a rapidly changing digital world. Susan shares insights from her extensive work, including collaborations with artists worldwide.From her perspective as an professor and former dancer she explains how  dance is more than an art form, but also as a vital way of knowing, being and understanding what it means to be human.-----Host: Celine Orman, dance archivist Skånes DansteaterGuest: Susan Kozel, professor at the School of Arts and Communication, Malmö University

I år firar Skånes Dansteater sitt 30-årsjubileum på flera olika sätt. Bland annat genom en serie samtal med olika röster som är och har varit delaktiga att skapa Skånes Dansteater. I detta specialavsnitt, för ovanlighetens skull helt på svenska, möter vi Skånes Dansteaters vd och konstnärliga ledare Mira Helenius Martinsson. Hon har lett kompaniet sedan 2019 och är en central kraft i utvecklingen av danskonsten i regionen.I detta avsnitt utforskar vi Miras vision för framtidens dans, hennes drivkrafter och den roll scenkonstinstitutionen kan spela de kommande 30 åren. Vi pratar hållbarhet, relationer och vad det innebär att leda en institution i ständig rörelse.-----Gäst: Mira Helenius Martinsson, VD & konstnärlig ledare Skånes DansteaterVärd & redaktör: Carl Johan Folkesson Karlidag, Skånes Dansteater

Between 2010 and 2019, Ben Wright choreographed over eight original works with us and served as Associate Artistic Director from 2014 to 2017, collaborating closely with former CEO and Artistic Director Åsa Soderberg.He is perhaps best known for his groundbreaking production The Feeling of Going, a large-scale pop-opera-dance-theatre piece built around Jónsi’s album Go.As part of our 30th anniversary, we revisit Ben’s time at Skånes Dansteater and reflect on his wide-ranging career.Ben also shares thoughts on navigating transitions, letting go to allow for transformation, and exploring life’s essentials—love, death, and change. He emphasizes staying connected to the inner child, living with joy and compassion, and building trust through connection in his art, guided by kindness and empathy.-----Host: Samuel Denton, dancer Skånes DansteaterGuest: Ben Wright, Choreographer & Artistic DirectorEditor: Samuel Denton, dancer Skånes Dansteater 

Patrick King, Skånes Dansteater’s first Artistic Director, and his partner Johan King Silverhult, one of the ensemble’s dancers during its early years, are still active as choreographers, dancers, and now Artistic Directors of Salon K Privé.As part of Skånes Dansteater’s 30th anniversary, we revisit the birth of an independent dance institution. Patrick King set the tone for the company’s new beginning with his work "XXX Close Up", where a cast of seasoned dancers from Malmöbaletten met newly recruited talents in a physically demanding piece.Hear Patrick and Johan not only recall the early years of Skånes Dansteater’s history, but also reflect on their broader dance careers: Patrick's experience of being a Black dancer in 1970s New York, performing in legendary productions such as "Fame" and Cirque du Soleil, living with elegance and dignity, and much more.-----Host: Kit Brown, dancer Skånes DansteaterGuests: Patrick King & Johan Silverhult, choreographers & artistic directors Salon K PrivéEditor: Celine Orman, dance archivist Skånes Dansteater

‘Wing Ding’ is a vibrant, absurd and wonderful celebration of dance – and a dream come true.For choreographer Lidia Wos, it's personal. In 2002, she took the Malmö Opera's stage as a young dancer. Now she's back - as a choreographer - with a marvelous team, the Malmö Opera Chorus, the Malmö Opera Orchestra and our dancers, who together bring three decades of dance memories to life.In 'Wing Ding' anything is possible: movement, imagination, joy and a dash of madness. A celebration. An anniversary. Coming full circle.This event was live streamed on Vimeo and Youtube on Thursday 3 April, 2025.-----Host: Samuel Denton, dancer, Skånes Dansteater.Guest: Lidia Wos, choreographer.

Meet Norwegian choreographer and dancer Ludvig Daae in this live episode of Dance Pod with Skånes Dansteater.  An artist talk about dance, thoughts on utopias and the new dance performance ‘Attempting Alchemy’.Medieval alchemy, the dream of making gold, may be the most utopian of all sciences. Alchemy pushes the boundaries of science and finds a home in the world of imagination. For Ludvig Daae, this dream of transforming everyday experiences into something different and elevated is a central part of creating art.In 'Attempting Alchemy' he searches for utopia. He wants to transform ordinary movements, themes and objects into beauty, magic and gold.This event was live streamed on Vimeo and Youtube Thursday 13 February, 2025.-----Host: Kit Brown, dancer, Skånes Dansteater.Guest: Ludvig Daee, choreographer.

By DancePod with Skånes Dansteater in collaboration with Within Practice 2024.Within Practice is a festival in Stockholm for contemporary dance practices that showcases the work of dancers and choreographers through various formats such as workshops, classes, panel discussions and practice presentations. Dancepod host Samuel Denton endeavour to explore all things ‘practice’ through a series of conversations with six different dance artists. This episode brings the dancer's voice to the fore. You meet four participants from Stina Nyberg’s Within Practice workshop: Anna Bitzok, Tova Gerge, Laura Linna and Elise Mae Nuding. They talk about what ‘practice’ means to them, and what’s it like to responde to someone else’s vision. How do you maintain a sustainable career in what can be a chaotic and uncertain profession, and lastly, how it feels to juggle several practices at the same time?The ‘Within Practice 2024’ series consists of 3 episodes. (Episodes 49, 50, 51.)-----Host: Samuel Denton, dancer Skånes DansteaterGuests: Anna Biczók, Tova Gerge, Laura Linna & Elise Nuding, dance artists & participants of Stina Nybergs workshop at Within PracticeEditor: Samuel Denton, dancer Skånes DansteaterDancePod with Skånes Dansteater: Kit Brown, Samuel Denton & Tiemen Stemerding, dancers Skånes DansteaterSpecial thanks to Within Practice, MDT, SKH & Dansens Hus.

By DancePod with Skånes Dansteater in collaboration with Within Practice 2024.Within Practice is a festival in Stockholm for contemporary dance practices that showcases the work of dancers and choreographers through various formats such as workshops, classes, panel discussions and practice presentations. Dancepod host Samuel Denton endeavour to explore all things “practice” through a series of conversations with six different dance artists. In this episode you meet Stina Nyberg, one of the six featured artists that made up this year’s Within Practice programme. Stina talks about her broader relationship towards the term practice and what feeds her choreographic curiosities.The ‘Within Practice 2024’ series consists of 3 episodes. (Episodes 49, 50, 51.)-----Host: Samuel Denton, dancer Skånes DansteaterGuest: Stina Nyberg, choreographer, dancerEditor: Samuel Denton, dancer Skånes DansteaterDancePod with Skånes Dansteater: Kit Brown, Samuel Denton & Tiemen Stemerding, dancers Skånes DansteaterSpecial thanks to Within Practice, MDT, SKH & Dansens Hus.

By DancePod with Skånes Dansteater in collaboration with Within Practice 2024.Within Practice is a festival in Stockholm for contemporary dance practices that showcases the work of dancers and choreographers through various formats such as workshops, classes, panel discussions and practice presentations. Dancepod host Samuel Denton endeavour to explore all things  ‘practice’ through a series of conversations with six different dance artists. In this episode you meet Björn Säfsten, the founder and artistic director of Within Practice. Björn talks about the festival and his motivations behind creating it. He also opens up the term practice and talks about his desire to build continuity, to deepen knowledge within the field, and his ambition to make what we do more accessible for wider audiences.The ‘Within Practice 2024’ series consists of 3 episodes. (Episodes 49, 50, 51.)-----Host: Samuel Denton, dancer Skånes DansteaterGuest: Björn Säfsten, choreographer & artistic director Within PracticeEditor: Samuel Denton, dancer Skånes DansteaterDancePod with Skånes Dansteater: Kit Brown, Samuel Denton & Tiemen Stemerding, dancers Skånes DansteaterSpecial thanks to Within Practice, MDT, SKH & Dansens Hus.