JUKSTA Company was founded in 2010 by choreographers Christine Gouzelis and Paul Blackman. What began as a creative partnership has since evolved into an internationally recognised company, known for its bold choreographic language and multidisciplinary collaborations. Working as both a choreographic duo and stage directors, Christine and Paul are united by a shared philosophy: that juxtaposition is a powerful lens through which to explore the diversity, conflict, and beauty of human experience. At the heart of their work are motion-driven states, where body, light, and scenography are not passive backdrops but active, interconnected systems—metaphors for societal, existential, and archetypal themes. These elements generate a sense of urgency and internal transformation, all breathing and performing in sync with the body. They shape behaviour, disrupt habitual patterns, and reflect social and psychological dynamics. Rather than supporting the choreography, these components operate within it, allowing space and movement to evolve together in real time. JUKSTA's choreographic worlds live between the visible and the invisible—sensed but not always seen. Their highly physical works provoke subtle yet poignant shifts in perception, confronting both performers and audiences with questions that linger beneath the surface. They ignite direct engagement with the intangible—an emotional force that transcends logic and speaks to vulnerability, catharsis, and collective truth. Paul and Christine are known for crafting multilayered, atmospheric environments where chaos and harmony coexist. Their staging is visually arresting, emotionally resonant, and open to interpretation. Offering audiences infinite ways to perceive their work, yet reaching towards something deeply human—a shared reality, imperfect yet searching. As creators, they continually pursue innovation through risk, refinement, and reinvention. Each project is a fresh inquiry, shaped by new strategies, codes, languages or context. Embracing both minimalism and maximalism, they embody the duality of "less is more and more is more." Their artistic reach extends beyond dance into opera, theatre, film, fashion and other cross-disciplinary fields— wherever movement holds meaning. As directors, Christine and Paul are adept at bringing together diverse voices, uniting performers and collaborators through a shared physical language and mutual trust. JUKSTA's work has been commissioned and presented by many of the world's leading institutions and festivals, including GöteborgsOperans Danskompani, Teatro alla Scala, Sadler's Wells, Salzburg Festspiele, Wiener Staatsoper, Onassis Cultural Centre Athens, Athens Epidaurus Festival, St. Gallen Theatre, National Theatre Mannheim, among others. Christine and Paul are committed to accessibility and the investment in nurturing future generations. Through mentorships, workshops, residencies, and seminars, they share their choreographic practice and support emerging artists across international festivals, academies, and companies. JUKSTA continues to build a lasting foundation for contemporary dance theatre—one that values imperfections, encourages reflection, and invites an ever-evolving exploration of movement and meaning.
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PLATFORMS
Götenburgs Operans Danskompani . Teatro Alla Scala . Salzburg Festspiele . NeedCompany . Venice Biennale . Wiener Staatsoper. Sadlers Wells . Onassis Cultural Centre Athens . NTM - National Theater Mannheim . Athens Epidaurus Festival . Kalamata International Dance Festival . Theater in der Jozefstadt . Arc for Dance . Theater Kiel . TicTac Art Centre . Mecklenburgisches Staatstheater . Tasdance Australia . Greek Ministry of Culture . New York Battery Dance Festival . Salzburg Landestheater . 53rd Dimitria Festival Thessaloniki . Klangforum . The New Dance Festival Beijing . Sziget Festival . Jasmin Vardimon (JV2) . Linz Tanzhafenfestival . AN-TRE Program . Beijing Academy of Dance . Gate8 Workshops . Spider Festival . Too Far East. B12 . Accademia Dimitri . Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance . Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts . National School of Dance Greece . West Australian Academy of Performing Arts . Iceland University of the Arts . Fontys Dance Academy . Dot504 Company Prague . Beijing BNU Dance Festival . The Place London . Festival Deltebre Dansa . Singapore M1Dance Festival . IMEROS Organisation Cultural Development . Ravnedans Festival . Dan.c.ce Cultural Centre . Greenwich Dance . 203Y Dance Theatre China . Dance New Amsterdam . Strut Dance Australia . LaborGras Studio Berlin . Jette Studio Brussels . Spanski Borci Dance Festival . Disney Hong Kong .
