We at Carte Blanche warmly congratulate our former house choreographer Ina Christel Johannessen on receiving the Norwegian Dance Information Centre’s Honorary Award 2024! Ina has played a central role in our company’s history and development, creating numerous memorable and groundbreaking works.

Ina served as Carte Blanche’s house choreographer from 1996 to 2000, a period that marked artistic exploration and strengthened the company’s profile in contemporary dance. Among her works are productions such as “Har du sunget den for Grieg?” (1993), created for the Edvard Grieg Jubilee, and “I lie, I speak” (2004), where her distinctive choreography was accompanied by Martin Horntveth’s electronic music. Her most recent production for Carte Blanche, “A Collection of Short Stories”, premiered in 2014 as part of the company’s 25th anniversary celebration.

One of the highlights of her collaboration with Carte Blanche is the production “Ambra”, a co-production with Iceland Dance Company that had its Norwegian premiere at the Bergen International Festival in 2008. For this creation, Ina received the Dance Critics Award for 2007/2008, recognizing her ability to create monumental and engaging works.

“Ina Christel Johannessen stands as one of Norway’s most influential choreographers in recent decades. She has inspired generations of dance artists both in Norway and internationally, playing a pivotal role in advancing and emancipating contemporary dance in the country. Her distinct choreographic signature, characterized by a deep exploration of movement with a craft that seamlessly merges emotion and physicality. She has left an indelible mark on the history of Carte Blanche. As a guest choreographer with the company, she created acclaimed works that have toured extensively on national and international stages. Collaborating with her has been a privilege, and her openness, dedication, and artistic integrity have been truly inspiring.” – Annabelle Bonnéry, Artistic Director of Carte Blanche.

The award ceremony will take place on Saturday, December 7, at Dansens Hus, following the performance In C by Sasha Waltz/Terry Riley. State Secretary Even Aleksander Hagen will present the award.

You can read more about the award and her artistic achievements on The Norwegian Dance Information Centre’s website and see the full nomination here.

We congratulate Ina and thank her for her significant contributions to Carte Blanche’s history and the development of contemporary dance in Norway!