Choreographer
Photo: Massimo Leardini
Alan Lucien Øyen is a rarity within dance and theatre. Graduating in dance from the School of Art in Oslo, Alan works in hybrid forms straddling dance, theater, opera, and film. From Bergen, Norway, his works are highly acclaimed in both his home country and abroad.
Alan has been artist in resident with the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet since 2013, where he is given the space and freedom for himself and his company winter guests to make groundbreaking theatre and dance performances in the stunning Norwegian Opera House.
As the son of a dresser watching theatre religiously from the age of 7, Alan started studying ballet at 17 with Hungarian ballet master and Marinsky graduate Peter Tornev. After performing with Carte Blanche and Amanda Miller’s company Pretty Ugly – Alan established winter guests in 2006. winter guests brings together actors, dancers, writers, set designers and technicians, touring theatrical works in English for the international stage. Since 2009 his plays for winter guests have been written and developed together with British playwright and director Andrew Wale. Alan was of the first choreographers invited to create a full-length work for the legendary Tanztheater Wuppertal, the first time since the death of their founder Pina Bausch.
2020 paved the way for Alan to begin exploring cinema and film. He is among the very first to employ high end ARRI film cameras on-stage. His film version of the play ”The Hamlet Complex” for the Norwegian National Ballet is expected to be released Autumn 2021.
Alan is curious and brave, but also humble, patient in his impatience, and has the ability to challenge himself and the people he works with. His personal style is always present in all he creates. Whether it’s theatre, dance or film, Alan’s works have a highly emotional and dramatic drive. His choreographic language is complex and technically challenging. The works are based on real life experiences, sourcing material from interactions with strangers, personal anecdotes, and pop culture references – always incorporating the performers and the rehearsal process in the shaping of the final narrative. Always in pursuit of a sincere and human expression.
In season 2021-2022 Alan will create his first work for NDT.