DANCE OR DIE

She is a rare force of nature, a woman who refuses to impose limits on herself or her art.

Charlotta Öfverholm’s entire adult life, as well as a large part of her childhood and early years, has been filled with dance and everything that comes in its train. She has worked as performer and choreographer with with some of the world’s most renowned artists, enthralling both them and her audience. She sees herself as continuously striving to achieve perfection; others see her as wild and beautiful, bizarre and intoxicating. A workaholic imbued with heart and unconquerable forcefulness, whose commanding scenic presence is welcome in the US, France, the Czech- Republic, and Germany. And even in her home country Sweden, where she is sometimes perceived as something of a rare bird – as far from that country’s vaulted virtues of moderation and prudence as it is possible to get – she enjoys a devoted following.

She has run her own dance company, choreographed countless dance scenes and been an inspired teacher. Her body is her closest friend. She has cared for it to the best of her ability but always challenged it to the limit. Although not immune to the wear and tear that full-time dancers unrelentingly subject themselves to – at the age of 50 her hip joint is now made of titanium – her will of steel remains as unbending as ever. Many of her peers gave up dancing a long time ago. But how can you stop doing something that is central to your very way of being?