DanceFestival Barents has appointed Jørgen Knudsen as the new Festival Director. The position has a fixed term of two years, with possibility of extension. Knudsen starts the 1st of June 2012.
Jørgen Knudsen is a well known name in the Norwegian and international performing arts environment. He has extensive experience as both a creative and performing artist and producer. Knudsen was for 25 years a part of Baktruppen, one of Norway's most influential performance/theatre groups, which also had a strong presence as international guest performers with extensive activity in both Europe and Asia. Knudsen has worked closely with dance companies, mostly as a composer for choreographers such as Jo Strømgren, Ina Christel Johannessen, Alan Lucien Øyen, Karen Foss among others. Today Knudsen manages Happy Gorilla Dance Company. The company just premiered at BIT teatergarasjen in Bergen with the piece The point of no return.
Knudsen is based in Bergen, but will now work from the festival office in the Arctic Culture Centre in Hammerfest.
The board of DanceFestival Barents is very pleased. Knudsen has broad artistic and administrative experience and knows both the artistic and cultural policy field well. He also has an extensive network in Norway and internationally. His enthusiasm for the festival and his belief that it has an important role to play in the Northern areas means that we are looking forward to him continuing and further developing collaborations established locally and in the region.
Knudsen succeeds Kristine Storsve in the position. Storsve has done a great job for the festival, but today seeks new tasks in a different part of the country.
Jørgen Knudsen, new festival Director. Photo: private
