Monica Emilie Herstad, choreographer, performer, is creating, and appearing in a number of art performances and events, located in different contexts, such as at international festivals, art openings, galleries, performance spaces, in films, at underground club scenes and sometimes at fashion events, through out the world. Her works are represented in cities such as in Oslo, St.Petersburg, New Dehli, Mumbai, Berlin, NY, LA, etc.

herStay expression is everywhere cherished, and she is now buzy creating one of her several well recieved commisioned herStay dance performances, as well as she is creating ad-hoc performances in different contexts, such as at the National Museum, opening the Biennale Oslo Open, at Oslo Culture Night, and similar.

herStay is her artist signature, and is an officially registrered art unit. Monica Emilie Herstad is a qualified member of both the NAR - Norwegian Association of Researchers, The Visual Arts Copy-right Foundation/ BONO, the Choreographers union Noda, DTS.

Since 2006 she presents her interpretation of Ibsen world-wide, with her performance "Past is simulation - The ladies of the sea vs Nora, and other stories of the society".

She is since 2005 offered a Guest Research stay, at the Centre for Ibsen Studies/ UiO.

Her Ibsen related project Past is simulation - The ladies of the sea vs Nora, and other stories of the society, was recently a guest performance at India Theater Festival in New Delhi and Mumbai, at Bangkok Fringe Festival, and is on its way further as well.

In 2004 she presented one of her major, mediated dance performances, SLOWFLY/V.i.c.t.o.r.i.a.. at Nationaltheatret, Torshovteatret, in Oslo, a critical comment to Hamsun`s novel, Victoria, where she in the last scene compares the dance interpretation of the protagonist with La dame aux camélias (The Lady of the Camellias) by Alexandre Dumas, amongst others.
The solo parts variation of this dance performance was invited to Patravadi Theater in Bangkok January 2006, very well recieved, and also - the year before, to Istanbul International Munincipality Theater Festival 2005, but this travel to Istanbul was postponed. She is with herStay performing internationally, ever since 1994, encouraged from when she recieved the National Norwegian Grant for Promising Young Artists, in 1998

Monica Emilie Herstad is educated in classic ballet, as well as in contemporary dance, and expresses dance also influenced by Japanese Butoh and Body Weather.

Monica Emilie Herstad is referred to within influential, international dance literature, for instance in the American professor at New York State University, Sondra Horton Fraleigh´s book Dancing into Darkness, published in 1999, at the University of Pittsburgh Press

Monica Emilie Herstad appears in several of Japanese Min Tanaka´s great performances internationally, since 1994, such as in The Dance of Life, to mesmerizing reviews, for instance in Tokyo Times (1997), and in his works - in both large outdoor productions, and inside larger theater spaces, The Ancient Woman/ Swan Lake (1994), I saw a Whale in a Grassland (1995), and she was also contributing to other of his works, such as The Wizzard of Oz (1995), and the The Magic Flute (1995).

She has also performed as a choreography assistant to his productions, and she co-produced the I... Sit production in Oslo, a duet with a young boy, casting the boy (1996).
She was for different productions as well assisting, according to either casting and choreograpy, lights, sound, costume design, and full production insight, contributing for instance to his Romance (1998) at PS122 in NY.
She has followed a number of his productions internationally, and sometimes joined his workshops to, both in Japan (1994, 1995, 1999) and in Ghent/ S.M.A.K. (2000).
She performed as a guest at his festival ArtCamp in DanceHakushu, programmed with her own performance, Disturbed ID, in 1999, located in the forest as stage.

September 1st 2008 Peter Brook presented a lecture in Norway. Listening to his voice, inspired Monica Emilie Herstad with an immediate remembrance of her performing on stage at Setagaya Theater in Tokyo, that was greatly commented upon by Peter Brook, as he as an invited guest entered the space, standing close to her and commenting to the audience upon her as "Beautiful concentration, Wonderful concentration", he repeated, as he was invited to observe Min Tanaka´s works during Tokyo International Festival of Performing Arts in 1997, a memorable moment.

Monica Emilie Herstad appears in European Raimund Hoeghe´s dance works as well, as he asked her to be the guest performer in his performance Throwing your body into the fight, in 2001, a performance supported by the Goethe Institut. The well respected Hoeghe is the major dramaturgist of early Pina Bausch

Monica Emilie Herstad subsequently offers professional level herStay workshops internationally, in contemporary and butoh inspired movement

Monica Emilie Herstad is academically qualified for applying and fulfilling a PhD in creating Dance, that she is approved for spring 2005, classified as "highly qualified applicant".

Monica Emilie Herstad holds the artistic competence of a MA, and she completed her BA in dance, dancers diploma and dance teachers exams at the Norwegian college of dance

In France, Paris, she studied further choreography, improvisation and Wigman, at amongst other Rencontre International de Dans Contemporaine, where she was introduced to and impressed with amongst other the teachings of Jaquelyne Robinson, earlier the pianist of the modernist Mary Wigman

In Japan she earned the most valuable artistic experience, dancing in performances, practicing Body Weather and Butoh by Min Tanaka, in her 7 years of continously specialization in understanding and performing, starting out as his dancer in 1994, and in 1997 also his choreography assistant, to his performance The Dance of Life premiered at Lillehammer Winter Olympics, and later at Tokyo International Festival of Performing Arts, and at the Ultima Festival, where she as both dancer and choreography assistant, selected the new dancers, and instructed the 1.20 hr performance choreography to a cast of 14 dancers - Monica Emilie Herstad stars at the front cover of the Tokyo-program in 1997, in this dance performance on Edvard Munch, supported by Japan Foundation, an excellent startingpoint to her future career, and several other productions.

Her professional experience with film counts several short films, touring international festivals

Monica Emilie Herstad´s complex education and experience within performance, dance and film, both practical and philosophical, makes us acknowledge the aspect of recognition and respect that a higher degree within this field demands. A certain amount of high level, practical experience, and research like hers, as well as the professional feedback, like the marvellous reviews she gains for her herStay works, as an example.

Her maintaining theoretical research project is entitled Intuition vs methodology, a plethora of different contingencies

Monica Emilie Herstad´s interests in Butoh; the authentic Japanese contribution to the complex field of contemporary art, is confirmed in her dancing in Japanese Min Tanaka butoh performances internationally. Monica Emilie Herstad´s artistic heritage is now expressed through a complex expression performed at the juxtaposition of a vague, dance expression, in the spirit of a discussion of slightly taking distance to a spesific genre quality, subtly combined with mediated elements and live music, surfaced in special, up-to-date aesthetics.

herStay is a distinguished and productive performance unit, that is defined to belong within the genre where the art gallery and the event is of just as great importance as the theater or dance stage itself.

herStay performances are of an ambient kind and uses dance, meditation, text fragments, art videos, and DJ´s live performed electronica music, as a more of a post-digital, if one may, expression, containing equal dramaturgic energies.

herStay artistic message consists of director Monica Emilie Herstads subtle, critical comments on the societies that surrounds us, thus, herStay art represents essentially the approach of defending pacifism, democracy and human rights as immanent values, through our performances, films and art events, that are continiously performed through out the world.

Monica Emilie Herstad has several extensive stays abroad, for instance in NY, Paris, Berlin, and Tokyo.

In 1997 where she was most dedicated asked to star as the front dancer at the posters to Min Tanakas performance in Tokyo, the performance became referred to in the media, such as in The Tokyo Times, as "a performance created by Min Tanaka, the new star in the zodiake", and her name and excellent performance skills was mentioned especially.

Ever since the beginning of her career, Monica Emilie Herstad recieves the most wonderful reviews with her artistic works, see herStay/ REVIEWS, an artist highly sought after.

Since 1994 she is also representing the leading unit established of body weather laboratories and butoh in her context

herStay photo: Monica Emilie Herstad portrait
Photographer: P Heimly 2008

Bless herStay

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E-W-I-G (2008) premiere edition 1 in Oslo in September, en ensembel production for 5 performers in a scenary of an immediate and bruatal context
TWIRL (2009) commissioned work, TBA
NoNameDance (2007)
Past is simulation - The Ladies of the Sea vs Norah, and other stories of the society (2006)
Post-matter--positioning (2005)
SLOWFLY/V.i.c.t.o.r.i.a.. in collaboration with The National Theater, Torshovteatret in Oslo (2004)
The fetish is the observer, BBT (2003)
The fetish is the observer, Oslo Kunsthall (2002)
herOism (2003)
[BeMyGhost] (2002)
Comewhatmay; (2001)
Docudrama (2001)
_INvisible _planet (2000)
_disturbed _ id (1999)
Levende Fangst (1999)
Recollection of an unlived life (1998)
Wounded, Henie-Onstad Kunstsenter (1998)
Illusions are by nature sweet (1997)
Itsu/When/Når?(1996)
Resyme I, The Year of Dance Festival (1993)

She is holding a Guest Research Fellowship at Centre for Ibsen Studies since 2005.

She was represented with a significant number of her site spesific performance events at different Ibsen Year 2006 contexts with her performance Past is simulation - The ladies of the sea vs Nora, and other stories of the society, for instance at Oslo City Hall, further at Domus Media, and at the official opening of the Henrik Ibsen Boulevard in Oslo, etc.

She presented her performance Comewhatmay;, and the belonging videos at the theater Collective Unconcious in NY, and at filmfestivals in NY and LA in 2005, and she was invited to several interesting theaters and festivals with her work SLOWFLY/ V.i.c.t.o.r.i.a.. for instance to The International Istanbul Munincipal Theater Festival 2005 (herStay postponed), The National Theater, Torshovteateret in Oslo 2004, and at Soria Moria Festivalen in Oslo, 2004.

She is invited to several art events in Bangkok in 2008, 2006, 2004, 1997, in N.Y. 2005, 2003, 1999, 1998, 1997, at NYIIFVF Filmfestival in LA 2005, and at Post Gallery in L.A. 2003, at Black Box Teater in Oslo in 2006, 2003, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1996, 1994, 1993, at Oslo Open in 2008, 2007, 2003, 2000, in Stavanger 2004, 1998, at Kaiitheater in Brüssel 2002, at BIT/ Oktoberdans 2002, at Bergen Kunsthall 2002, at Oslo Kunsthall 2002, at Moderna Dansteatern, Skäpsholmen in Stockholm 2002, at Carte Blanche Danseteater in Bergen 2002, at Teaterhuset Avant Garden in Trondheim, 2003, 2002, 2001, at Grenland Friteater in 2002, at Baltiskij Dom, Solstnevorot, at White Night Festival in St.Petersburg 2000, at Culture City Bergen Festival 2000, at Art Camp Festival in Japan 1999, at HERE Theater Mainstage in Soho NY 1999, at H2O Festival 1999, in France in duet with Stradivarius player Nils Økland at the Annecy Film Festival 1999, representing the Nordic and Baltic Countries, at Henie-Onstad Artsenter 1998, etc.

Ms.Herstads first appearance in film, Morphia, 1995, earlier toured Nordic Panorama Kiruna 1998, Grand Prix Video Dance Stockholm 1997, Dance for Camera/ULTIMA Festival 1997, Bangkok International Art Film Festival 1997, Electra at Henie-Onstad Artcenter 1996, Grimstad Film Festival 1996

Monica Emilie Herstad early collaborated artistically with the ambient music composer of the 90´ies, BIOSPHERE in 1999, to his original music to her new herStay choreography including 8 herStay dancers, in the dance concert Live Catch, entitled and commisioned by The H2O-Festival.
Further, she represented the Nordic and Baltic countries during Annecy Animation Film Festival in France in 1998, dancing at 5 screen openings to Nils Øklands contemporary music of live Stradivarius.
In 1996 she danced in the successful composer Christian Eggens Orkesternatt with Oslo Sinfonietta during ULTIMA FESTIVAL, featuring star actors such as Bjørn Sundquist, directed by Mette Brandtzæg, dramatized by Halldis Hoaas, just to mention a few of her long list of magnificent, international and local artistic collaborations and experience as performing and creative artist.
Paolo Vinacciae, did the composition for her performance Disturbed Id version I, in 1999.
Her work with composer Patrick Shaw Iversen in solo performances, and with him and Anna Lisa dal Pra in Boreas Theater, at Grenland Friteater and at Haa Gamle Prestegaard and in Stavanger Domkirke, and other places, received great reviews as well.
Special thanks also to collaborators such as Otmar Wagner and Henrik Westergaard-Pedersen where Monica Emilie Herstad appeared in their performance Inventure Debile - Offenbar Berlin - Oslo.
The filmmaker Setzuko Watanabe, the collaboration with Mobile Home, and Tanja Orning, DK Arts Management Agnes Kroepelien, the collaboration with Randy Nailor and Pia Myrvold at Samtidsmuseet, the collaboration with Arne Rygvold at Østfold Kunstnersenter.
The great photographer Marit Anna Evanger to whom Monica Emilie Herstad danced in a serie of 4 performances at Stenersen Museet at her photo exhibition of Min Tanaka´s performance The Dance of Life.
Further thanks to curator Camilla Eeg Tverbak, to herStay personal film consultant Anette Haraldsen, the collaborations with Camela Leierth (KENT), and the composer Jon Rekdal, the author Henning Reusch, and the wonderful danceconcert between Monica Emilie Herstad and cellist Bodil Vossgård Mathisrud from Stavanger Symphony Orchestra for Gyldendahl Publishing House, et al.

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herStay dance pedagogics:
Monica Emilie Herstads is a qualified dance teacher holding a BA in ballet and modern dance.
Her teaching experience is confirmed in several lectures and workshops on her own company herStay.
She is also inspired of Min Tanaka´s Butoh and Body Weather Laboratories movement, teached on university level.
She is invited with her workshops/ lectures to such as at the University of Oslo, UiO, with her lectures April 2nd 2008, and at Oslo Fotokunstskole in October 2007, at UiO March 23d 2006, at UiB during the conference Global Ibsen between East and West in November 2006, On intuition versus methodology, a plethora of different contingencies? as a contribution to the seminar series Designing Design (2004), and earlier at the university NTNU in Trondheim (2003), KhiO/ The National Fine Art Academy in Oslo (2003), Oslo Fotokunstskole (2000 - 2003), Nordic Black Theater (February 2002), at Bergen Dansesenter (1994- 1997), at Scenehuset (1996- 2002), at UPOP- festival in Grenland (2002), at The National College of Dance (2000), at The University of Pusan in Korea (1995), and she is continously teaching professional workshops, and holding lectures.

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SPARE TIME ACTIVITIES:
2000 - 2007 she was the leader of the herStay board, 2005 - 2008 the functioning leader. 1998-2000 she was an elected board member to the Danse- og Teatersentrum organization and the manager of their election commité as well 2000-2003. 1994-1998, she was as well elected to represent the editorial commité to the professional dancers union, NODA, during their professionalization periode of their Nordic distributed magazine.

In 2000-2004 she functioned as the artistic advisor to the non profit fashion magazine Fjords where she was asked to select the front cover issue titles, as well as the cover photos, to the successful issues. She suggested the art editor Claudia Sandor and the music editor Marius Jøntvedt, to everyones satisfaction. Her advising of highlight front cover photos and front cover subtitles are mainly ATTENTION (2004), INFLUENCE (2003), EMBRACE,(2002), subtitle BIOGRAPHY (2004), and series: title BORDERLINE (2001), in addition to her essays on art in general, with articles such as ORGANIZED HAPPY AGRESSION in October 2003, and so on. Some of her articles are available as read-to-go´s.

herStay Artist Book will be published in 2008

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