ABOUT US
Panta Rei Dance Theatre (PRD) is a Norwegian contemporary dance theatre company based in Oslo, Norway. The company was established in 2000. Since then the company has produced sixteen productions and managed a number of large-scale dance projects. Alongside our artistic and outreach work, the company runs a development programme for young, professional dance talents. The company is known for its fast- paced colourful dance theatre performances that are accessible to a wide range of audiences in a variety of theatrical and non-theatrical spaces.
Our vision: Get ready to be moved!
Panta Rei…everything flows, everything is in movement… The Greek philosopher Heraclitus argued that “no man ever steps in the same river twice”, as the river is in constant movement, constant transformaton. Panta Rei Dance Theatre’s vision is funded on the idea that human beings and the society in which we live are constantly changing and developing, and on a sincere wish to move and change people through dance.
We believe in the transformational power of dance, we believe that meetings through dance make us into more complete and reflective human beings, both emotionally, aesthetically and socially. Our vision Get ready to be moved! therefore underpins our every way and work. PRD has one of the most diverse audiences in Norway and in 2017, the company was nominated for Norwegian Audience Development Prize.
In 2020-2022, PRD will create three new works. In addition to these productions, the company will create numerous outreach programs and public art projects with a focus on reaching new audiences.
The company tours nationally and internationally, building long-term relationships with partners and projects.
In 2019, Panta Rei Dance Theater presented 162 performances nationally and internationally to over 7,500 spectators. In the same year, the company held 90 workshops for over 2054 children and young adults, in addition to leading the TILT project which involved more than 10,000 spectators and over 5000 participants in 171 workshops.
Read more about our main areas of focus
Quotes about Panta Rei Dance Theatre:
«Panta Rei has a clear artistic profile. Over the years, they have shown a willingness to renew and develop. They associate with dance artists with high technical execution ability at the same time as they are door openers for new audience groups. They meet the audience both with art projects, the performances that are the very core of their activity, and through the important work they do related to touring activities and dance development projects, especially with a focus on children and youth »,
- Janne Langaas, Teatersjef, Teater Innlandet
“We find Panta Rei Danseteater to be one of the most rewarding companies to work with because of their very high quality work and the positive, flexible attitude of both dancers and administrators”,
- Roger Werner, director, Villages in Action, UK
Biographies
Pia Holden
Artistic director and CEO
pia@pantareidanseteater.com
+47 920 98 897
Bio:
Pia is a graduate of the Ballet Academy in Gothenburg and the Joffrey
Ballet School in New York. She has danced for the New York Dance
Ensemble and performed in works fom choreographers such as Jo
Strømgren, Lise Eger and Lise Nordal. Pia has also worked with various
choreographers in Brazil, including Cristina Moura. In addition to
choreographing for stage, Pia has created aerial acrobatics for the opening
of the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo. Pia has danced with, choreographed
and collaborated on works with Panta Rei since 2005.
Photo: Tale Hendnes
Julie Drønen Ekornes
Administrative leader/ Producer / Dancer
Julie graduated from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHIO) in 2007 with a Bachelors Degree in Modern and Contemporary Dance. Since that time Julie has performed in dozens of professional productions across the world, many of those productions with Panta Rei Danseteater. As well as professional productions, Julie has amassed considerable experience teaching and creating with a diverse range of community groups alongside managing projects large and small. As she continues her performance work with the company Julie has added the role of Producer, Tour Planner and Coordinator to her list or roles within the company.
Photo: Neil Nisbet
Anne Holck Ekenes
Founder on leave
anne@pantareidanseteater.com
+47 920 12 264
Bio:
Anne trained at The Laban Center in London obtaining an MA in
choreography, dance for camera and performance. She was a performer
with Transitions Dance Company and Attik Dance, and worked with
choreographers such as Jamie Watton (UK), Allen Kaeja (Canada), Lois
Taylor (UK) and Noa Dhar (Israel). Anne founded Panta Rei Dance Theater
(PRD) in 2000 and in that time has created a huge number of projects and
choreographed works for stage, outdoor locations and experimental film.
Photo: Tale Hendnes
Neil Nisbet
Photographer
neil@article19.co.uk
+ 44 7903 4480 88
Bio:
Neil has worked with PRD since 2010 as a documentary filmmaker for the
company. Neil is a former dancer who today works with video production and as
an art journalist. He runs Article19.co.uk which is an online contemporary dance
magazine.
Peter Brian Albers
Technical manager / Light designer
peter@pantareidanseteater.com
+47 415 61 728
Bio:
Peter has worked as a theatre technician since 1990. Through his work as
technical manager in Asker kulturhus, lighting engineer in Oslo Nye Teater
and Centralteatret, as a freelance lighting designer and lighting designer
at Bærum Kulturhus, he has gained extensive experience in theater and
dance. This has resulted in tour assignments and collaborations with
numerous choreographers and dance companies. Peter has worked with
PRD since 2012.
Nathaniel Reed
Music composer
Bio:
Nathaniel composes music for theater, dance, film and large-scale venue-
specific productions. He has worked with V-TOL Dance Company, The
National Theater of Scotland, Frantic Assembly, Attik Dance, Mark Murphy,
Trading Faces, Boilerhouse, Kip Hall and Liam Steel. He has composed for
the opening ceremony of Turku – European Capital of Culture, Finland, and
for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Nathaniel has collaborated with
PRD since 2002, and has composed for several of PRD’s productions.