jana.jacuka

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  1. Jana Jacuka (1995, NL/LV) is a Latvian choreographer and performer currently based in Amsterdam. 

    Her practice is rooted in vocal choreography. She explores different exteneded and extreme vocal practices and treats the voice as an (in)visible extension of her body, like another limb with which to move through space.
    Jana is curious to create performances almost out of nothing. With no or minimal lighting design, no scenography or sound design, she allows the voice and body to take the main stage. Her solo works emphasize the raw and essential elements of performance - the encounter with an audience.
     
    Jana’s latest work HA was a source of inspiration for Dries Verhoeven's work The Fortress at the Venice Biennale 2026 - Dutch pavilion.
     

    Her works have been presented at Santarcangelo Festival (IT), Actoral (FR), times.newyork gallery (USA), Frascati (NL), Arsenic (CH), AUAwirleben Festival (CH), SAAL Biennaal (EE), Homo Novus festival (LV), among others.

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    Education

    2023 – 2025 Master’s Degree, DAS THEATER, Amsterdam

    2015 – 2018 Bachelor’s Degree in Contemporary Dance Art Studies, Latvian Academy of Culture

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    Awards

    2026 YAA Award

    2025 International Bursary Award: for HA by Jana Jacuka (Amsterdam Fringe Festival)

    2020-2022 National Dance Awards: Performance of the Year for DISTANCE BETWEEN US by Jana Jacuka

    2021 National Theater Awards: Grand Prix for SMILGIS by Viesturs Kairišs, choreography by Jana Jacuka

     

    Nominations

    2020-2022 National Dance Awards: Choreographer of the Year, Performer of the Year, Performance of the Year for DISTANCE BETWEEN US
    2019 National Theater Awards: Choreographer of the Year for Movement Directing in MUMU
    2018-2020 National Dance Awards: Choreographer of the Year, Performer of the Year, Performance of the Year for ROUTINE OF FEAR
    2016-2018 National Dance Awards: Performer of the Year;

    DISTANCE BETWEEN US nominated for “Kilogramme of Culture 2022”;

    Digital collection “PHYSICAL EVIDENCE MUSEUM” nominated for “Kilogramme of Culture 2021”

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    Selected Works

    2024 30 APPEARANCES OUT OF DARKNESS: Performer, work by Arno Schuitemaker

    2024 MARINA ABRAMOVIC: Performer, Retrospective exhibition at Stedelijk Museum
    2023 DAMIEN RICE - EUROPEAN TOUR: Guest artist
    2023 DAMIEN RICE - SAILBOAT TOUR: Guest artist
    2023 PAUST ISTU MINE: Performer, by Keithy Kuuspu, Soltumatu Tansu Lava
    2022 DISTANCE BETWEEN US: Choreographer, Director, Performer, Ģertrudes Street Theatre
    2022 WINTER FALL: Cinematographer - Vincent Moon, Choreographer - Jana Jacuka, for fashion brand CORTANA
    2020-2022 PHYSICAL EVIDENCE MUSEUM: Co-author, together with Laura Stašāne, HOMONOVUS Festival, AUAwirliben Festival, SAAL biennaal, TR Warzawa
    2020-2022 ROUTINE OF FEAR: Director, Text Author, Choreography, Performer, Ģertrudes Street Theatre
    2018-2019 FAUX PAS: Choreographer
    2019 IT’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT: Director, Text Author, Choreography, Performer, Dirty Deal Teatro

       
       

     

    Movement Director for:

    2023 CABARET: Event Author Viktors Runtulis, Sporta 2 Quarter

    2023 BRAND: Director Viesturs Kairišs, Dailes Theater
    2022 FARINELLI: Director Viesturs Kairišs, Dailes Theater
    2021 CONTRABASS: Director Henrijs Arājs, Dailes Theater
    2021 SMIĻĢIS: Director Viesturs Kairišs, Dailes Theater
    2021 DAILES CANON: Director Viesturs Kairišs, Dailes Theater
    2021 VALKYRIE ACT II: Director Viesturs Kairišs, Conductor Andris Poga, Cēsu Arts Festival, Pils Park Stage
    2019 RIGA RING: Director Viesturs Kairišs, Conductor Sigvards Kļava, VEF Culture House
    2019 MAN FROM PODOLSK: Director Georgij Surkovs, Daugavpils Theater
    2019 WEST SIDE STORY: Director Viesturs Kairišs, Conductor Andris Poga, Cēsu Arts Festival, Pils Park Stage
    2019 VALKYRIE ACT I: Director Viesturs Kairišs, Conductor Andris Poga, Concert Hall ‘Cēsis’
    2019 BALTIC RING: Director Viesturs Kairišs, Latvian National Theatre
    2018 CABARET ‘O’: Event Author Viktors Runtulis, Sporta 2 Quarter
    2018 MUMU: Director Viesturs Kairišs, Mikhail Chekhov Russian Theater
    2018 LATVIAN FOLK COSTUME SHOWCASE: Director Dita Danosa, Concert Hall Palladium

       
       

     

    Performer for:

    2024 30 APPEARANCES OUT OF DARKNESS: performance by Arno Schuitemaker

    2023 PAUST ISTU MINE: performance by Keithy Kuuspu, Soltumatu Tansu Lava, performer

    2022 SCOT COHEN: Installation, directed by Scott Cohen, residency in Mallorca, choreographer and performer
    2022 ARIANT PERFORMANCE: Residency, in collaboration with musicians JFRD and Josh Wilkinson, choreographer and performer
    2021 CANNON FODDER: Post-dramatic theatre performance, directed by Dmitrijs Volkostrelovs, St. Petersburg Theatre Festival, actress
    2021 BEE MATTER: Performance, directed by Iveta Pole, ‘Homonovus’ festival, perfomer
    2019 SITUATION COMEDY: Post-dramatic theatre performance, directed by Vsevolods Ļesovskis, Ģertrudes Street Theatre, actress
    2019 ALL MY WEAKNESSES ARE YOUR LIPS: Contemporary dance performance, choreographer Dmitrijs Gaitjukēvičs, Latvian National Theatre, dancer
    2019 LABRYS: Contemporary dance performance, choreographers Ieva & Krish, AB Dambis, performer
    2018 BEDRE: Contemporary dance performance, choreographer Sintija Siliņa, Rīgas Mākslas telpa, dancer
    2018 MY EYE’S INTERPRETATION: Contemporary dance performance, choreographer Alise Madara Bokaldere, dancer