FRAGILE MATTER - Jukstapoz

ABOUT
- 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.
PHOTO

FRAGILE MATTER

A Brief study of the body as a metaphor: At war between or in unity with. It either concurs the battle, survives trauma or surrenders. Following a journey of both visual and physical landscapes, the group exposes tension through these themes, and experiences the layers of their intimate worlds through their bodies,… they dance in order to speak a language unspoken…one that is always there but broken.

Nominated for 'Best Choreography' and 'Best Ensemble' in the 2015 Hong Kong Dance Alliance Awards

International Dance Companies (Remounted),
BODHI Project (AT),
Tasdance (AUS),

International Tours -,
Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong,
M1Dance Festival Singapore,
BNU Dance Festival Beijing China,
New Faces New Dances Festival Austria,
Republic Salzburg Austria,
Spanski Borci Dance Festival Ljubljana Slovenia,
Deltebre Dance Festival Spain,
Sziget Festival, Budapest Hungary,
Battery Dance Festival New York United States,
Moonah Arts Centre, Hobart Australia,
Princess Theatre Launceston Australia,

Direction, Choreography, Concept
Christine Gouzelis & Paul Blackman
Costume Designer
Suwa Wong
Sound Designer
Benson Li
Lighting Designer
Luca Sirviö
Set Designer
Dimitiris Nasiakos, Christine Gouzelis
LYRIC THEATER HONG KONG 2014