ULF kompani is a queer intergenerational, international dance company founded in 2015 by dance artist Ulf Nilseng. A deep and evenly balanced collaboration between Nilseng and artists Corentin JPM Leven and Amund Ulvestad, the company has so far produced seven critically acclaimed performances with various guest dancers on topics related to queer identities, queer culture and queer life. The majority of the performances have premiered on the Norwegian National Stage for Contemporary Dance (Dansens Hus), with subsequent touring in Europe and Latin America.

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In opposition to the academization of performing arts, our creative process is perhaps more akin to alchemy: It is through the body and within its relationship to different materials that we explore the topics and ideas we are interested in. Through deep improvisation and dialogue, we build our performances from a simple gesture, a humble musical phrase or a single scenographic object or material, atom by atom, from the ground up. The performance then emerges organically, its semantic and associative qualities gradually revealing themselves through our bodies, through our communication. This way of working would not be possible without true collaboration where everyone is on even footing. Hence, within our collective, there exists no formal hierarchy or designated leadership, and while we each bring to the table our individual experience and expertise, every aspect of our performances is made in collaboration – from choreography and dramaturgy to music, scenography and lighting.

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Ulf Nilseng

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Ulf Nilseng (b. 1963) is an award-winning Norwegian dancer and choreographer based in Oslo. He started off as a dancer, working and touring both nationally and abroad with several influential choreographers from 1995 to 2010. In the same period he created his first work «Terrengløp» (1999) in collaboration with video artist Kai Rennes. In 2002, he founded the company TOYBOYS with Terje Tjøme Mossige, and created ten performances revolving around queerness between 2002 and 2013. Their performances were known for a mixture of humor and gravity, challenging the limits of normal behavior.

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Creating ULF kompani in 2015, Nilseng continued his work with new collaborators, further exploring queerness on stage and bringing forth a personal, imaginative and physical dance that investigates power, language, prejudice and the experience of being an outsider. The company has so far produced seven critically acclaimed performances and more are under planning.

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Ulf also remains active as a dancer, collaborating with renowned choreographers in various contexts, from cultural bastions like the Norwegian Opera and Ballet to independent art-forward productions. He is also a sought-after workshop leader, regularly teaching both experienced dancers and students in institutions like the Norwegian Theatre Academy. He was granted a 10 year work stipend by the Norwegian Arts Council in 2018 (?) and the Honorary Award from the Norwegian National Resource Centre for the Art of Dance in 2022.  Read more at ulfnilseng.com

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Amund Ulvestad

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Amund Ulvestad (b. 1982) is a Norwegian artist, musician and composer based in Oslo and Berlin. He holds an MA in Music Technology from The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), with a specialization in sound art and composition.

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Ulvestad has been active as a touring musician for 30 years, and has held a wide range of concerts and performances in Europe, Asia, and the Americas both as a soloist and as part of various ensembles, primarily using cello, voice and electronics as his main instruments. Today, he mainly works with experimental music, sound art and performing arts.

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Ulvestad has held solo exhibitions and performances at amongst others Atelier Nord, Trøndelag Center for Contemporary Art and KW Institute for Contemporary Art in Berlin. He has also created music and sound for over 30 theatre and dance productions, including at the Norwegian National Theatre, the Croatian National Theatre and The Ibsen Theatre, as well collaborating with a host of ensembles in the international independent performing arts field. He has also scored music for several feature films.

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Since 2015, Ulvestad has been a guest lecturer at institutions such as NTNU and the Norwegian Theatre Academy, and since 2020 he has been affiliated with Freie Universität Berlin as an artist in residence and associate fellow.  Read more at amundulvestad.no

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Corentin JPM Leven

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Corentin JPM Leven (b. 1993) is a Franco-Norwegian artist who resides in Oslo. He completed his education in scenography at the Norwegian Theater Academy and later diversified into multi-disciplinary practices after graduating in 2015.

 

Leven's artistic style is a blend of movement and scenic architecture. In 2020, Leven made his debut as a director and performer with the performance titled “+-“. Leven's work is deeply connected to the heritage and history of the Queer community. By drawing on personal experiences, Leven delves into a range of issues related to Queer identity, the Queer body, the Queer community, and Queer history. Leven's main focus is to explore the space between memory and monument.

 

In 2019, Leven received the Norwegian Art Working Grant in scenography; in 2023-2024, he received the Norwegian Art Working Grant in acting. He has collaborated with artists such as Ulf Nilseng, Tori Wrånes, and Bianca Casady (CocoRosie). Read more at corentinjpm.com