The dance performance “Open Doors” share an artistic interpretation of the tools of hip-hop and breaking culture: self-expression, improvisation, and cypher.

With shared intention, attentive listening, and open doors, six dancers come together with Breaking as their common movement language. They listen, explore, follow, and challenge. What might we experience if we are attentive, curious, and dare to open the doors to opportunities we didn't know existed?

Dancing in a circle is something that exists in many cultures; within Breaking and hip-hop culture, it is called a Cypher. A Cypher can be perceived as both something very concrete and something free, but also as intimidating, as well as warm and welcoming. The Cypher arises through shared intention; it does not exist without the presence and connection with others. Through honesty, vulnerability, and acceptance, the door to the shared energy is opened.

Length 25 minext goes here

Choreographer  Theresa tr3sa Gustavsson
Dancers Alva Springfeld, Groovy (Anna Eileen
Nguyen Jeppesen), Kevin Navarrete,
 Switch Rock (Ludvig Karlsson), Nynne Hovgård

Music Jacob Tellin
Costume Victoria Denise Tcha
Photo & Film Claudia Shulie Svensson
Producer Theresa Gustavsson
Co-producer Rickard Gilengren

Initiative and Produced by Breaking Association Malmö as part of the multi-year project "What is a Cypher".

With the support of Region Skåne and Kulturförvaltningen Malmö

• Premier November 2023 BAM JAM, Malmö Dance Week.

• Malmö Sommarscen July 2024

• Tomelilla September, 2025 Södra Sverige Dansar.

Fast step sequences, rhythmic movements and precise group choreographies characterise the South African dance isiPantsula, simultaneously marked by virtuosity and a spirit of resistance.

The Pantsula subculture originated in the Sophiatown district of Johannesburg during the violent expulsion of black people during the apartheid era. It became a common expression and identity that united the country's eleven ethnic groups, used as a means of communication during the demonstrations.

In YEBO YES! the dancers combine isiPantsula with freestyle and club culture, emphasising character, individual expression, playfulness, unity and drive in an homage to the expressive power of this dance - an electrifying group dynamic and strong community that never seems to end.

Length 60 min

Artistic leaders: Theresa Gustavsson & Joanna Holewa Chrona
IsiPantsula Artistic leader: Sibusiso Mthembu 

Co-creating dancers: Sibusiso Mthembu, Patricia Mofokeng, David Mokale, Theresa Gustavsson, Joanna Holewa Chrona 

Music: Yared Tilahun Cederlund 
Vocals: Ntsika Fana Xganga 
Costume: Victoria Denise Tcha 
Light: Erik Wiedersheim-Paul 

Producer: AFIA 
Co-producer: Norrlandsoperan, Dansnät Sverige, Dansens Hus 

With support from: Konstnärsnämnden, Vusi Art project, Riksteatern, Kulturrådet 

• Premier 2021 Dansenshus, Stockholm

• Dancenet National tour 2021, Sweden

• extract, Dansenshus Oslo 2022

• State theatre Pretoria 2023, South Africa

• Dancenet National Tour 2023, Sweden

• STHLM Dance Festival, 2023

• Spinneriet, Karlstad 2023, Sweden

• Africa Mía festival 2023, Tenerife

• ICE HOT Festival, 2024, Oslo

• Potsdam Tanztage festival 2024, Germany

• Malmö Sommarscen 2024, Sweden

• Nordwind Festival 2024, Germany

• Malmö Festivalen Aug, 2025, Sweden

“Theresa Gustavsson lever för dansen. Men det är inte bara dans för henne, det är något större - en kultur och konstform. Ett levnadssätt och en skola. Dansen är ett språk som får henne att kunna kommunicera med vem som helst. Från vilket land och vilken kultur som helst.”

A dance portrait, a meeting between a dancer and a filmmaker.

Credits

Concept: Lars Dareberg & Theresa Gustavsson
Video: Lars Dareberg
Choreography, Dance, Text: Theresa Gustavsson

2020

Dance & Choreography: Theresa Gustavsson
Costume: Theresa Gustavsson

Concept: Co-created by Scaramanga and Theresa Gustavsson

2021

During a exploratory residency in Aarhus called Connections, Amund Bentsen and Theresa Gustavsson as artistic leaders guided a group of dancers through the research called "Sense of place" where explorations in of location based research and sensory work took place. All combined into this video where the focus was to explore colors in sound and in motion.

All participants got to answer questions related to feelings, emotions, sensations, sound and movement related to the different colors in the panorama rainbow.

The musician and dancer Raffael Bender (Black forest) produced the sound track moving through the colors and all the dancers got to express their relation and experience of the colors.

All in agreement with Olafur Eliasson who is the artist behind the Rainbow Panorama on top of ARoS Museeum.

Artistic directors: Theresa Gustavsson, Cajsa Godé, Christian Tellin, Johannes Dalenbäck
Co-creative artists: Yared Tilahun Cederlund, Madeleine Ngoma, Jacob Tellin

Artistic leaders: Theresa Gustavsson, Cajsa Godé,

Co-creative artists: Yared Tilahun Cederlund, Madeleine Ngoma, Jacob Tellin, Niki Tsappos.

Swedish Family was an all style dance crew active in the battle scene in Sweden and Europe around the years of 2012-2016. The forming members Mariella Parra, Theres Gustavsson, Cajsa Godée, Joanna Holewa Chrona and Ramona Panula.

“Materia Non” was a performance created and by and performed by the all female popping group ATATA.
2010

Forming members:
Ana Strandberg, Tarika Walberg, Amanda Vähäsarja, Theresa Gustavsson, Awas
Later members: Shantana Shaid
Cajsa Godé

The performance Time machine by ATATA at the out door event Super Jam at Vitabergsparken, Stockholm Sweden.

Performed by: Theresa, Ana, Amanda, Tarika, Shanatana

Swedish popping group ATATA performing their show "1508" at the event "Almost There" in Stockholm, Sweden feb 2010.

Performed by : Theresa, Shantana, Ana, Tarika

A duet created and performed by Joanna Holewa Chrona and Theresa Gustavsson 2013 as participation in the dance competition Swedish Dance Delight vol 1. in Gothenburg.

A Swedish dance group focusing on the style of Locking experimenting with the style in the form of performances as well battles.
Forming Members: Cajsa Godée, Carolina, Theresa Gustavsson, Amanda Vähäsarja.
Later members: Anton Borgström, Jörgen Vedeler.

The Swedish group Diversity Crew performing a Locking show case at Broadway Dance Center, New York 2007.

Choreography & dancers: Josefina Samuelsson, Hanna Nygren, Theresa Gustavsson