# Kjersti Alveberg

Kjersti Alveberg (26 July 1948 – 19 October 2021) was a Norwegian choreographer and dancer. Over the last 30 years of her career she created ballets for stage and television and won prestigious awards for her work.

## Early life

Kjersti Alveberg began to dance at the age of four, but not until she was 19 she took the decisive step of starting her dance studies at Norwegian National Academy of Ballet in Oslo, working at the same time at Chat Noir as a dancer. Aiming at sociology she went on to study dance in New York City, Amsterdam, London and Paris before attending the Nansen Academy. For several years she was a freelance dancer at the Oslo theatres, in fringe groups and in television. For 5 years she was a dancer, actor and singer at Det Norske Teatret doing musicals and plays, also working in TV and in fringe dance companies. Her choreographic debut came in 1975, with "Tomorrow?" at The Norwegian Opera's Ballet Workshop.

## Breakthrough

In 1984 Kjersti won international acclaim, when her TV ballet "Beyond Reach" achieved 3rd prize in Prix Italia. The same year the Norwegian dance and theatre critics chose her ballet as that year's best stage production. The "Ashes, Mist, Windblown Dust", inspired by Ibsen's Peer Gynt, was awarded the jury's Special Prize in Prix Italia 1986 plus other national and international TV awards. TV producer Jannike Falk certainly has contributed to the success of Kjersti Alveberg's many dance films, well worth mentioning is "Who is the one?"/"Bønn" (1996) to new music by Jan Garbarek and poems by Rumi. Alveberg has also cooperated with producer Stein Roger Bull. "Dance Macabre" (1995) is one of several NRK ballets made for The Eurovision Summer Concert at Holmenkollen. Kjersti Alveberg has choreographed several ballets for New Carte Blanche: "Amber" and "Echo", both televised in NRK. When establishing stately support for Carte Blanche, (Norway's modern dance company), Alveberg was an artistic front figure. In 1990 her full length ballet: "Volven", (Scandinavian saga of creation), premiered at The Norwegian National Ballet with music by Synne Skouen, later touring Denmark, Aalborg and The Royal Danish Opera. In 2000 The Norwegian National Ballet presented "Volven" for the third time. "Volven", (the Norse goddess of destiny) was first danced in 1989 by Indra Lorentzen, in 1994 by Nina Bjørsvik and in 2000 by Ingrid Lorentzen. "Volven" has been said to be the most grandiose and poetic epos created by a Norwegian choreographer so far.
In 1991 she won the prestigious competition of ideas for the Norwegian Olympic Ceremonies. The Lillehammer Opening Ceremony in 1994 was built on her concept of ideas. Kjersti was artistic leader for the Olympic Ceremonies for 1 year, with choreographer Sølvi Edvardsen as her co-director. In 1992 she created Norway's presentation at the Winter Olympics in Albertville, France.
"Babies of Babel" was created for The Norwegian National Ballet in 1998. "Journey On Dreamt Ocean" in 2001 was inspired by the universe of painter Terje Ytjhall.
* In 2005 she released her book Visions. Eye On Dance. Press publishing house. Her declaration of love for dance as an art form
* In 2005 she was appointed artistic director for the opening ceremony of The Norwegian National Library.
* In 2007 she created the cross-over performance:"@lice", commissioned by Concerts Norway and The Norwegian national touring theatre.
* In 2008 she directed and edited "@lice" for TV with Mats Claesson/Sarah Rosenbaum. Exposed in NRK2 2009.
* In 2009 she was appointed head of the jury for Telenor's International Culture prize.
Alveberg's ballets have always been thematically oriented - many were inspired by art, philosophy, poetry and music. Norwegian TV has created two portrait programs about Kjersti Alveberg: "Metropolis" (1990) and "Dance Me!" (2003). Produced by Morten Tomte and Jannike Falk.

## Personal life and death

Kjersti was the older of two sisters, Siri and Eli. Her parents: Per Alveberg (1921–2009), a pioneer of rehabilitation/ social worker. Kari Alveberg,(1926) specialized teacher/children with learning disabilities. Kjersti was married to journalist Anders Hoff in Oslo 1981–89. From 1990 to 2000 she lived with chiropractor Knut Assjer in Asker. Kjersti has one son, Noah Alveberg.
Kjersti died on 19 October 2021 at the age of 73.

## Productions

| Year | Title | Notes | Production Company |
| 2010 | Nano | Ballet. Repertory | Oslo National Academy of the Arts |
| 2009 | Transcendance | Ballet duet | Oslo National Academy of the Arts |
| 2008 | @lice | Crossover performance. Filmed and telecasted in 2009 by NRK2 | Co-production, Riksteatret/Concerts Norway |
| 2006 | Cubaret | Ballet | Oslo Dance Ensemble |
| 2005 | Hush! | Artistic director of the Opening Ceremony | National Library of Norway |
| 2004 | Mirror ("Lille Speil") | Guest performance Nice/France. | |
| 2004 | It's about time ("Nett No!") | Guest performanceHarare/Zimbabwe | Oslo National Academy of the Arts |
| 2003 | Dance Me ("Dans meg") | TV portrait of Alveberg | Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 2003 | Dancing Cuba! | Filmed and directed, TV Documentary | Nordisk Films, TV2 |
| 2002 | It's about time ("Nett No!") | A full evening production at Det Norske Teatret | Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 2001 | Mirror (Lille Speil) | Full evening production | Det Norske Teatret |
| 2001 | Space and man ("Rommet og mennesket") | As Dancer/Choreographer | Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 2001 | Journey on dreamt ocean ("Reise på drømt hav") | | Norwegian National Opera and Ballet |
| 2000 | Mini Macho | | Norwegian National Academy of Ballet |
| 2000 | Volven ("Volven") | Full evening ballet, new version, third cast. | Norwegian National Opera and Ballet |
| 1999 | Zap Zombie ("Skjeve Blikk") | New version, Norway tour, telecasted on NRK | Oslo Dance Ensemble |
| 1999 | Fragile Moments ("Skjøre Sekunder") | Solo Line Alsaker (100 years' anniversary) | National Theatre, Oslo, Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 1999 | Tikk Takk 1000 | New years' gala 2000 | Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, Norwegian National Academy of Ballet |
| 1998 | Babies of Babel ("Babels Barn") | | Norwegian National Opera and Ballet |
| 1997 | Zap Zombie ("Skjeve Blikk") | | Norwegian National Academy of Ballet |
| 1996 | Who is the one ("Bønn") | NRK Ballet | Northvision |
| 1996 | In Me | Solo | Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 1995 | Dance Macabre | Eurovision. Summer concert Holmenkollen | Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 1995 | Alveberg Evening | 20-year anniversary | Carte Blanche |
| 1994 | Picasso's Women ("Picassos kvinner") | 20 years' anniversary | Henie-Onstad Art Centre |
| 1994 | In One | Ballet performed at Carte Blanche, Oslo Dance Ensemble, Brussels (guest appearance) | National College of Dance |
| 1993 | Echo ("Ekko") | First prize, Video Dance International Grand Prix. | Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 1992 | Albertville | Artistic director for the Norwegian entry, Olympic Games | Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 1992 | Moments ("Øyeblikk") | Ballet | Oslo Black Box Theatre |
| 1991 | Secrets ("Lokk") | Competition for young dancers | EBU |
| 1990 | Metropolis | TV portrait of Alveberg | Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 1990 | Fragile ("Glassdrøm") | Dance Film, awarded Video Dance International Grand Prix. | Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 1989 | Volven (Scandinavian saga of creation) | World premiere, tour Denmark, Alborg, Royal Theatre Copenhagen | Norwegian National Opera and Ballet |
| 1988 | Amber ("Rav") | Telecasted on NRK, Carte Blanche | Bergen International Festival |
| 1987 | Spirits | Ballet, telecasted on ZDF, Competition for young dancers | EBU |
| 1986 | YR | Solo Alveberg. | Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 1985 | Ashes, Mist, Windblown Dust ("Aske, Skodde, Støv for Vinden") | TV ballet from Ibsen's Peer Gynt.Prix Italia Jury's special prize. Winner Amanda Award, winner Dance for Camera, New York. Winner Video Dance International Grand Prix (2 awards). | Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 1985 | Media | Solo Alveberg. Competition for young dancers | EBU Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 1985 | Now ("Nå") | Winner: Dance Critics' Award, The Norwegian National Ballet | Norwegian National Opera and Ballet |
| 1985 | Beyond reach ("Utenfor rekkevidde") | TV production as dancer/choreographer | Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 1983/1984 | 6 Dance Videos | Summer concert Holmenkollen | NRK Eurovision |
| 1981 | Exodus | Solo dancede by Marianne Skovli | Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 1981 | Blue | Solo danced by Indra Lorentzen | Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 1980 | Sweet & sour Journey ("Reise i sur-søt saus") | | Norsk Danseteater, Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 1979 | Decadans ("Dekadans") | Workshop, young choreographers | Norwegian National Opera and Ballet |
| 1979 | Creations ("Skapelser") | NRK's 10th anniversary, performed at Henie-Onstad Museum | Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 1976 | Wish you were here ("Skulle ønske du var her") | TV Ballet, regi Istvan Korda Kovacs | Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |
| 1975 | Foot ("Fot") | Ballet | Studio Oscar |
| 1975 | Tomorrow? ("Imorgen?") | Ballet workshop at The Norwegian National Ballet | Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |

## Publications

* Visions - Eye on Dance Press Forlag (2007)
Visions – Eye on Dance is her declaration of love for dance as an art form. It is also a jewel of a book, a pictorial documentation of her unique private universe. All of her most important stage and screen productions are presented here in large format in the form of digital paintings. Alveberg's ballets have always been thematically oriented, many were inspired by classical literature and art. Her stage interpretations have been like great tableaux on canvas, depicting a wondrous fantasy world. In this book, she also takes us behind the scenes, into the workshop, without breaking the spell. Visions permits readers to make their own journey into Alveberg's world.

## Awards and honours

* 2008: Aase Bye's award
* 2006: StudySphere selected Alveberg's website as one of the best educational resources on the Web in the category "Choreography & Choreographers"
* 2005: Visions — Eye on Dance, Biography of Alveberg
* Head of the Telenor Culture Award jury
* 2002: Oslo City Culture Award
* 1998: The Norwegian Center for the Art of Dance — Prize of Honour
* 1997: Telenor Culture Award. "Limitless Communication"
* 1996: Festival International. Program Audiovisuel. "Dance Macabre"
* 1994: Video Dance International Grand Prix. "Echo", TV ballet, First prize. TV Transmission
* 1990: Video Dance International Grand Prix. "Fragile", TV ballet
* 1989: Video Dance International Grand Prix. "Ashes, Mist, Windblown Dust", Jury's special Award (two prizes)
* 1988: Dance on Camera, New York. "Ashes, Mist, Windblown Dust"
* 1987: Amanda Award/(Norwegian Oscar). "Ashes, Mist, Windblown Dust" (Free Artistic)
* 1985: Prix Italia Jury's special Award. "Ashes, Mist, Windblown Dust"
* 1985: Dance Critics' Award "Now"
* 1985: Prix Italia, third prize. "Beyond Reach"
* 1984: Oslo City art award