Charlotta Öfverholm

In a Cage of Light

A choreographic outburst about life itself: That’s life

Charlotta Öfverholm has now turned 60 yet continues to dance tirelessly. Explosive, fearless and with a powerful stage presence, she brings both theatrical dynamism and expressive musicality. She is an uncompromising performer on stage – and her production In a cage of light is further proof of that.

Öfverholm begins on a trapeze, tipping herself backwards down onto the stage, while singing Sinatra’s That’s Life, and then throwing herself into combative choreography with fellow performer Jordi Cortes. An intimate duet ensues, in which the limitations of the body and the fragility of life come into play. These two form the heart of the performance quartet, while Lauri Antila playing his raspy double bass and Tobias Hallgren as an angel-of-death-type figure with whip create a dramatic counterpoint.

With an open mind regarding age and experience, and in a landscape where humour contrasts with existential darkness, questions are raised about what binds us together – and how we can interact right up to the end.

Charlotta Öfverholm

Artistic director, Dancer

Charlotta Öfverholm has been active as a choreographer since 1995 and has created over 40 productions, which have toured Europe, the USA and South America. As a dancer, she has worked internationally with DV8 in London and Complexions in NYC, among others, and in Sweden with choreographers such as Alexander Ekman and Benke Rydman. In addition to choreographing for her own company, Compagnie Jus de la Vie, she has created works for the Göteborg Opera, Tanztheater Münster, RTV, Spira and Norrdans, as well as opera productions for Folkoperan and the Royal Swedish Opera. In 2015, she launched Age on Stage, a project that challenges norms and celebrates experienced dancers.

Jordi Cortes

Choreographer, Dancer

Jordi Cortes trained at the Institut del Teatre in Barcelona and has danced with Lanònima Imperial, the National Theatre company in London and the legendary DV8 Physical Theatre company, among others. He has also created works for Galili Dance, Pedro Pauwels’ dance company and Compagnie Jus de la Vie.
Jordi has been collaborating with Charlotta Öfverholm since 2007, and he has co-directed a number of works, including In a cage of light.

Lauri Antila

Double bass

Lauri Antila has collaborated, composed and performed music for, among others, the Finnish National Theatre, Dramaten, Stockholm City Theatre, Riksteatern (Sweden’s National Touring Theatre), SVT Drama, the Romeo & Juliet Choir, and has also performed a duet show with mime artist Branch Worsham called Box of Stories. Lauri is a member of the klezmer group Sabbath Hela Veckan.

He has an ongoing collaboration with Charlotta Öfverholm and has created music for some of her works, including Les Vieux, Pas de deux sans toi, How come?, Prosthesis and In a cage of light.

Tobias Hallgren

Light designer, Dancer

Tobias Hallgren serves as technical director of Compagnie Jus de la Vie and has been working with Charlotta Öfverholm since 1998, as a dancer, lighting designer and set designer. Tobias is one of the founders of lighting technology company Lumination of Sweden and has extensive experience as a lighting designer.

With a background as a dancer, he trained at Balettakademien in Stockholm and at the Rotterdam Dance Academy. Charlotta and Tobias have collaborated closely over the past 25 years, creating works that have toured to festivals throughout the world.

Credits

Choreography and concept: Charlotta Öfverholm and Jordi Cortes
Composer: Lauri Antila
Dancers and musicians: Jordi Cortes, Tobias Hallgren, Lauri Antila, Charlotta Öfverholm
Lighting design: Tobias Hallgren, Lumination
Trapeze instruction: Jacob Westin
Costumes: Linda Öhrn, Maria Lundqvist
Photos: Fabian Kriese

Tours with Dansnät Sverige, spring 2026

Tour dates

1 February
Kulturhuset Tio14, Falun

3 February
Västerås Konserthus

8 February
Dans i Nord/Studio Acusticum, Piteå

10 February
Kulturens Hus, Luleå