L'INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA

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

SALZBURG FESTSPIELE 2018
WIENER STAATSOPER 2021

Shortly before his death, Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) composed with the sensual love story L'incoronazione di Poppea one of the most notable operas of all time. For the first time, the story of an opera was not based on myths, legends or invented events, as it did in the Renaissance, but on historical events. Like his contemporary William Shakespeare, Monteverdi brought credible characters to the stage, with human weaknesses and passions. For this purpose, Monteverdi also established the so-called seconda pratica, in which the music became the servant of the text and was guided by the libretto. Action and feeling came to the fore in this way.
Operas tell about the meaning of love and life and the meaning of death.

Conductor
William Christie
Direction
Jan Lauwers
Choreography
Jan Lauwers, Paul Blackman
Concept
Jan Lauwers
Music
Claudio Monteverdi
Costume Designer
Lot Lemm & Barkey
Lighting Designer
Ken Hioco
Dramaturgy
Elke Janssens
Set Designer
Jan Lauwers
Photographer
Cast
Sonya Yoncheva, Poppea Kate Lindsey, Nerone Stéphanie d'Oustrac, Ottavia Carlo Vistoli, Ottone Renato Dolcini, Seneca Ana Quintans, Virtù / Drusilla Marcel Beekman, Nutrice / Famigliare I Dominique Visse, Arnalta Lea Desandre, Amore / Valletto Tamara Banjesevic, Fortuna / Damigella Claire Debono, Pallade / Venere Alessandro Fisher, Lucano / Soldato I / Tribuno / Famigliare II Davic Webb, Liberto / Soldato II / Tribuno Padraic Rowan, Littore / Console I / Famigliare III Virgile Ancely, Mercurio / Console II Needcompany Sarah Lutz - Solo dancer Dancers of BODHI PROJECT and SEAD Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance Les Arts Florissants