BIOGRAPHY
FROM 68°N SINCE 2010
As an artist, I am interested in how social taboos and topics related to shame can be given a performative expression. I am driven by an interest in creating entrances for conversation and reflection, most often about topics that we as society tend to put a lid on. We all have our "baggage". Shame, taboos or trauma are something many people in society carry. Some of it we can perhaps call a natural part of life, and some not. As an artist, I get inspiration to create from experiences in my own life and current events. I am based in my home region Vesterålen, and have since 2010 worked with choreography, dance and performance under the name Thomas of Norway.
I use dance as language when I create, and experiment with intensity in various forms. Intensity in speed, intensity in the quiet, and intensity in meeting the audience. As an artist, I get straight to the point when I talk about eating disorders, suicide, child neglect, sexual abuse, and violence in close relationships. When I talk about grief and experiences of loss, the language is gentler, but just as direct. I mainly work in the solo format. A solo is vulnerable in itself, and vulnerability is a central thematic element in everything I create. An artistic process usually starts with me imagining images of how a subject can be given a performative expression. Thoughts and mental images turn into physical drawings and/or paintings, which then turn into movements. First as a form of draft, then as defined choreography or structure. The language of movement is often detailed and intense, and I often challenge the body to push itself to the limit. At the same time, I am concerned with the energy that is created when meeting the audience, and I often place the audience close to me, or preferably on the stage. By doing so, I seek to create an experience of participation and recognition in the audience. That this could have been any of us.
CV
EDUCATION / TRAINING / MENTORING
2022 : DIGITAL LEAP - MODUL 2
Seminar, Digital possibilities for performing arts (1 week)
Vilnius, Lithuania
2022 : DISCOVERING PRACTICE
Workshop with Barbara Simonsen (DK) and Davvi - Senter for scenekunst
Bodø, Norway
2021 - 2022 : MENTORING - CREATIVE LAB
2-year mentoring programme by CODA Oslo International Dance Festival with Fin Walker (UK)
Oslo, Norway
2018 : PERFORMING ARTS REALY
Seminar/workshop with Dansearena Nord in collaboration with Dance Ateliers Reykjavik (IS), SeaChange Lab (DK), School of Creative and Performing Arts of Calgary (CA) and Night Swimming Theater (DK)
2008 - 2010 : SKOLEN FOR SAMTIDSDANS
2-year education - contemporary dancer
Oslo, Norway
2007 - 2008 : TRØNDERTUN FØLKEHØGSKOLE
1-year training
Melhus, Norway
PORTFOLIO / BY THOMAS OF NORWAY
COMING IN 2025 : HE, SIREN? (SOLO)
Under development
With support from Forum for nordnorske dansekunstnere and Davvi - Center for performing Arts, Museum Nord & NAKV
COMING IN 2025 : POWER OF LOVE (DUO)
Under development - Thomas of Norway and Ida Løken Valkeapää
With support from Davvi - Center for Performing Arts, Stiftelsen Fritt Ord and Nordland County Council
2023 : CAN YOU HEAR THE WIND? (SOLO)
Co-produced by Nordland Akademi for Kunst og Vitenskap
Created with funding from Kultursamarbeidet i Vesterålen and Museum nord
Premiere: 15. September 2023
2023 : THEN, YOU LEFT (SOLO)
A solo version of Holding Position (2021)
Co-produced by Lofoten kulturhus
Premiere: 27. April 2023
2021 : HOLDING POSITION (DUO)
Co-produced by Lofoten kulturhus
Created with funding from Davvi - Center for performing Arts, Nordland Visual Theater, Hurtigrutens Hus, Art Council Norway, Lofoten kulturhus,
Nordland County, Vågan Municipality and Øksnes Municipality.
Premiere: September 2021
2021 : FAMILIAR STRANGER
Co-produced and created for Fremmedart
Premiere: August 2021
2019 : YOU MIGHT LIKE ME BETTER IF WE SLEEP TOGETHER (SOLO)
Co-produced by Lofoten kulturhus
Created with funding from Davvi - Center for performing arts, Art Council Norway, Lofoten kulturhus og Nordland County.
Premiere: September 2019
2017 : UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN (DUO)
Co-produced by Lofoten kulturhus
Created with funding from Lofoten kulturhus og Nordland County
Premiere: September 2017
2016 : IN SILENCE WE TRUST (SOLO)
Premiere: October 2016
2016 : TOMORROW FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY (SOLO)
With support from Kaviar Factory
Premiere: Februar 2016
2015/2026 : WHEN BOYS CRY (SOLO)
Created with private fundings
Premiere: April 2016
2015 : NO VISIBILITY (SOLO)
Produced with support from Rennebu Municipality
Premiere: Februar 2015
2014 : PICTURE PERFECT (DUO)
Produced with support from Hitra Municipality
Premiere: October 2014
2014 : SIBIR (DUO)
Produced with support from Hitra Municipality
Premiere: February 2014
2012 : PILLOWS (DUO)
Produced with support from Sortland Municipality
Premiere: June 2012
2010-2011 : SOCIETY´S LOCKER ROOM (VERSION 1: SOLO 2010 / VERSION 2: TRIO 2011)
Produced with support from Vesterålen Regionråd
Premiere: 2010/2011
GUEST PLAYS / TOURINGS / FESTIVALS
2024
BABEL - VISNINGSROM FOR KUNST
Performances of What Is Real In Intuitional Adaption, When There Are Sediments To Reality by Rina Eide Løvaasen (SE)
November 08-10th 2024
Trondheim, Norway
DOUBLE BILL
Thomas of Norway
Lofoten kulturhus, September 10th, 2024
With fundings from Art Council Norway, Fond for lyd og bilde, FFUK, Nordland fylkeskommune
In cooperation with Lofoten kulturhus
TOUR - THE HOME EDITION / WHEN BOYS CRY
Tour in Nordland, Troms and Finnmark Counties, April - July 2024
With support from Art Council Norway
Guest play with 4 performances of You Might Like Me Better If We Sleep Together 13. og 14. February 2024
Mo i Rana, Norway
2023
Guest play with 2 performances of When Boys Cry 16. og 17. February 2023
Mo i Rana, Norway
GALLERI REDAN
Performances of What Is Real In Intuitional Adaption, When There Are Sediments To Reality by Rina Eide Løvaasen (SE)
21. February 2023
Malmö, Sweden
VÅRSCENEFEST - TROMSØ SCENEKUNSTFESTIVAL
Premiere: Then, You Left, 27. April 2023
Tromsø, Norway
RENNEBU KIRKE
Guest play with Then, You Left 11. June 2023 - In cooperation with Rennebu Menighetsråd
Rennebu, Norway
THE HOME EDITION - MALMÖ
When Boys Cry, guest play in private home, 4. September
Malmö, Sweden
MALMÖ OPEN STUDIOS
Performance What Is Real In Intuitional Adaption, When There Are Sediments To Reality by Rina Eide Løvaasen (SE)
01.-02. September 2023
Malmö, Sweden
Premiere: Can You Hear The Wind? 15. September 2023
Co-produced by Nordland Akademi for kunst og vitenskap, in cooperation with Kultursamarbeidet i Vesterålen and Museum nord.
Melbu, Norway
WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY
When Boys Cry 9. oktober 2023 in cooperation with Kulturfabrikken Sortland
Sortland, Norway
When Boys Cry 10. oktober 2023 in cooperation with Lofoten kulturhus
Svolvær, Norway
Workshop in social media for dancers
In cooperation with DanseFestival Barents and Forum for Nordnorske Dansekunstnere
Hammerfest, Norway
2022
OSLO FRI
Performance: When Boys Cry 11. November 2022, Salt Art & Music
With support from Art Council Norway, Fond for utøvende kunstnere, Salt Art & Music and Oslo Teatersenter
Oslo, Norway
GALLERI BELENIUS
Performance: What Is Real In Intuitional Adaption, When There Are Sediments To Reality by Rina Eide Løvaasen (SE)
12. November 2022
Stockholm, Sweden
PRIDE ART
Performance: When Boys Cry 14. October, Kulturkirken Jakob
Oslo, Norway
TOUR - THE HOME EDITION / WHEN BOYS CRY
Tour in Nordland, Troms and Finnmark Counties, May - September 2022
With support from Nordland County, Forum for Nordnorske Dansekunstnere and Scenekunst LOVE
KUNSTHALL GRENLAND
Performance: What Is Real In Intuitional Adaption, When There Are Sediments To Reality by Rina Eide Løvaasen (SE)
10.-19. June 2022
Porsgrunn, Norway
THE HOME EDITION - KRAGERØ
When Boys Cry, performance in private home, 17. June
Kragerø, Norway
2021
Performance: When Boys Cry 11. December 2021, Teatr Baza - In cooperation with Dance Highways
Funded by Davvi - Center for performing arts, Bodø2024 and Erasmus+
Warsaw, Poland
Performance: Holding Position 13. November, Arktisk kultursenter
With support form Davvi - Center for performing arts
Hammerfest, Norway
FREMMEDART
Created for Fremmedart : Familiar Stranger, August 2021
Ramberg, Norway
ARCTIC ARTS FESTIVAL / FESTSPILLENE I NORD-NORGE
Performance: You Might Like Me Better If We Sleep Together 26. June
Harstad, Norway
2020
Performance: When Boys Cry 4.-8. November, Arktisk kultursenter
With support from Dansearena nord, Forum for Nordnorske Dansekunstnere and SpareBank1 Nord-Norge
Hammerfest, Norway
THE HOME EDITION / WHEN BOYS CRY
Guest plays ini private homes 20. - 24. February: Oslo, Stjørdal og Rennebu
Norway
2019
RADVENT 2019
Performance: You Might Like Me Better If We Sleep Together, 11. December 2019, RådStua Teaterhus
Tromsø, Norway
DANSSTATIONEN - PLATFORM
Performance: You Might Like Me Better If We Sleep Together, 06. December 2019, Palladium Malmö
Malmö, Sweden
THE HOME EDITION / WHEN BOYS CRY
Guest plays in private home, 2. November 2019
Malmö, Sweden
PLATTFORM NORD
Performance: When Boys Cry 09.-13. October 2019
Kristiansand, Norway
FORUM FOR NORDNORSKE DANSEKUNSTNERE - 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Performance: When Boys Cry 10. august 2019, RådStua Teaterhus
Tromsø, Norway
2018
WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY
Performance: When Boys Cry 20. October
Ballangen, Norway
2017
THE INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY - LOFOTEN KULTURHUS
Performance: When Boys Cry 27. April - In cooperation with Lofoten kulturhus
Svolvær, Norway
SVOLVÆR KIRKE
Performance: When Boys Cry 25. January 2018
Svolvær, Norway
2016
LYDRØRT - A PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL
Performance: When Boys Cry 30. April 2016, Trevarefabrikken
Henningsvær, Norway
IN THE NAME OF COD - A QUEER ART FESTIVAL
Performance: When Boys Cry 30. November
Røst Island, Norway
TOUR - DEN KULTURELLE SKOLESEKKEN
Touring in Vågan Municipality with When Boys Cry 21.-25. November 2016
Lofoten, Norway
2015
PRAGUE QUADRENNIAL OF PERFORMANCE DESIGN & SPACE
Performance: No Monopoly In Smooth Spaces by Rina Eide Løvaasen (SE)
Prague, Czechia
REITIR
Work showing of 24 Hour Shaddow - 29. June 2015
Siglufjörður, Iceland
REITIR
Performance: No Visibility 24. June 2015
Siglufjörður, Iceland
ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
2024 : DIP - DANCE IN PROGRESS
The Arctic Hideaway, Fleinvær. Development of solo work "He, Siren?"
29.08. - 07.09.2024
Fleinvær/Bodø, Norway
2022 : DAVVI - CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS
Thomas of Norway and Ida Løken Valkeapaä - September 2022
Hammerfest, Norway
2022: DAVVI - CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS
Home Residency, Thomas of Norway and Ida Løken Valkeapaä - Mars 2022
Stokmarknes / Tromsø, Norway
2021 : NORDLAND VISUAL THEATER
Holding Position - May/June 2021
Stamsund, Norway
2020 : DANSEARENA NORD
Thomas of Norway - Guest Artist 2020, Dansearena nord
Hammerfest, Norway
2019 : DANSEARENA NORD
You Might Like Me Better If We Sleep Together - February 2019
Hammerfest, Norway
2015 : KULTURFABRIKKEN SORTLAND
Thomas of Norway, July 2015
Sortland, Norway
2015: REITIR
May/June 2015 - Siglufjörður
Supported by Vesterålen Regionråd and Tilbakestrøm
Siglufjörður, Iceland
CO-CREATING
2023 : BIRRI - CARRIERS
Choreographer and dancer, Music video by BIRRI
Svolvær, Norway
2022 : RINA EIDE LØVAASEN (SE)
Choreographer and performer in What Is Real Intuitional Adaption, When There Are Sediments To Reality?
By Rina Eide Løvaasen (SEO)
Malmö, Sweden
2018 : GRENSELØS
Work created for Vesterålen Regionråd - 30 year anniversary
Choreographer, "PUST" ("BREATH")
Sortland, Norway
2018: CAMILLA FIGENSCHOU
Choreographer, performer and actor in the movie Tauba by Camilla Figenschou (NO)
Lofoten, Norway
2017 : TINE SUREL LANGE
Choreographer and performer in the short video "Kroppspress" by Tine Surel Lange (NO)
Henningsvær, Norway
2017: HANNE KOLSTØ DUO
Choreographer "FAKE LIGHTS" for Aorta Dance Company in cooperation with Hanne Kolstø
Svolvær, Norway
2015 : RINA EIDE LØVAASEN (SE)
Choreographer and performer in "No Monopoly In Smooth Spaces" by Rina Eide Løvaasen (SE)
Malmö April - May 2025
Malmö, Sweden
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2025: IMMERSION IN DANCE
Teacher for March - April 2024
Sortland & Stokmarknes, Norway
2024: HATS - HÅLOGALAND AMATØRTEATERSELSKAP
Teacher dance/choreography
Svolvær, Norway
2018 : NORDLAND KUNST- OG FILMFAGSKOLE
Guest teacher, November 2018
Kabelvåg, Norway
2016 - 2022 : AORTA DANSEKOMPANI
Artistic Director and choreographer
Svolvær, Norway
2017 : LIAF - LOFOTEN INTERNATIONAL ART FESTIVAL
Workshop leader - Performance workshop
Henningsvær, Norway
2016 : LYDRØRT - EN PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL
Workshop in composition and body works, April 2016
Henningsvær, Norway
2012 - 2014 : HITRA KULTURSKOLE
Dance Teacher 100% position, shared with Frøya Municipality
Hitra, Norway
2010 - 2011 : SORTLAND KULTURSKOLE
Dance Teacher 80% temporary position
Sortland, Norway
GRANTS / OTHER SUPPORT
2022 : GOVERNMENT GRANT FOR ARTISTS
Diversestipend - www.kulturradet.no
2022 : MEMBER GRANT
Forum for Nordnorske Dansekunstnere - www.fnnd.no
2021 : DANSEARENA NORD - GUEST ARTIST
Grant and development programme
2020 : PRODUCER SUPPORT
Dansearena nord, 2020-2021
2020: MEMBER GRANT
Forum for Nordnorske Dansekunstnere - www.fnnd.no
2019 : GOVERNMENT GRANT FOR ARTISTS
Diversestipend - www.kulturradet.no
2015 : VESTERÅLEN REGIONRÅD
Travel Grant
TRUSTED POSITIONS
2021 - 2024 : SCENEKUNST LOFOTEN & VESTERÅLEN
Founder and manager
2024 - 2025 : NORSK KULTURRÅD
Member of jury (Dance)
2024 - 2025 : DAVVI - SENTER FOR SCENEKUNST
Board member
2022 - 2024 : PRODA PROFESJONELL DANSETRENING
Deputy Board Member
2022 - 2023 : NORSK KULTURRÅD
Member of jury (Performing Arts)
2023 - 2024 : DAVVI - SENTER FOR SCENEKUNST
Board member
2021 - 2022 : FORUM FOR NORDNORSKE DANSEKUNSTNERE
Board member
2020 - 2021 : OSLO TEATERSENTER
Member of jury
MEMBER OF
CREO
FORUM FOR NORDNORSKE DANSEKUNSTNERE
PAHN - PERFORMING ARTS HUB NORWAY / DANSE- OG TEATERSENTRUM
OSLO TEATERSENTER
SCENEKUNST LOFOTEN & VESTERÅLEN