by Hagar Malin Hellkvist Sellén
Physical, poetic, insistent
Driv Hunger is a choreographic work that emerges from the body and the poetry of movement. A work that, as challenging as it is insistent, creates a language beyond words. Driv Hunger is a standalone sequel to Tiden det tar from 2023. Just as with that work, Hellkvist Sellén also allows this creative process to begin with movement to see where
it leads. An intuitive work where the floor becomes a space for physical and philosophical reflection—a celebration of the craft of choreography and dance.
The title *Driv Hunger* is borrowed from a work by graphic artist Lina Nordenström. *Driv Hunger* will have its world premiere on November 13, 2026, at the Norrlandsoperan in Umeå and will also be performed on November 14, followed by a tour with Dansnät Sverige.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the premiere of Hellkvist Sellén’s work Bättre folk—her first co-production with Norrlandsoperan and Dansnät Sverige—adding a little extra celebratory sparkle to this premiere. Bättre folk became a groundbreaking work that has influenced many subsequent generations of dancers.
www.malinhellkvistsellen.se
Hagar Malin Hellkvist Sellén (b. 1978) works as a choreographer and artistic director for Västerbottens Koreografiska, based in Umeå. She has been working in contemporary choreography for 25 years. Ever since her debut, she has been at the forefront of the development and establishment of contemporary choreography. A tireless worker who has cultivated a bold and curious artistic practice with
an ear attuned to our present, as well as to our history and future. Always faithful to the artistic vision and with trust in the choreographic creative process and her fellow artists, Hellkvist Sellén has followed her own inner voice with integrity, and her works have found their very own forms. She trained at the School of Dance’s choreography program in
Stockholm.
Pernille Holden (b. 1979) is a performing and creative dancer active in the independent dance scene, based in Oslo. Holden trained at Spin Off’s Preparatory Program in Dance and the School of Contemporary Dance. Since 2005, she has worked on collaborative projects focusing on collectivity, musicality, and the body’s potential, including with Ingri Fiksdal, Helle Siljeholm, and Ingeleiv Berstad. She is employed by the Actors’ and Dancers’ Alliance SKUDA. Holden has collaborated with Hellkvist Sellén for many years and participated in numerous works, most recently *We Are Moving Toward the End* (2024).
Elin Hallqvist (b. 1999) is a dancer, performer, and choreographer from Lund. She holds a bachelor’s degree in dance from ArtEZ in the Netherlands and was an intern at Cullberg during the 2023–24 season. Hallqvist is a co-founder of the interdisciplinary collective Wolfa Collective and also creates her own works, most recently the solo piece TARTINI’S DREAM GIRL. In her artistic practice, Hallqvist enjoys blending different disciplines and exploring their interrelationships to question what appears to be reality.
Anna Levander (b. 1992) is a musician and composer based in Umeå, performing with the band Dolce and under her own name. In addition to playing in bands, she has experience producing and composing music for theater, film, and advertising. Levander is inspired by contrasts and duality and enjoys blending electronic with more acoustic elements. In her
work, Levander approaches each project with an exploratory mindset and enjoys working in the intersection between music and other art forms.
Erik Westerlund (b. 1967) is a lighting designer with a particular interest in light as a means of shaping space and in creating visual expressions that enhance the choreography. He trained at the Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts and designed lighting for some 60 dance and theater productions in the early 2000s. Hellkvist Sellén and Westerlund began their collaboration in the late 1990s; “
”
and “Driv Hunger” mark their eleventh collaborative work.
Anne Koutonen (b. 1977) works as a producer at Västerbottens Koreografiska and has extensive experience in contemporary performing arts. She studied at institutions including the Stockholm University of the Arts and the Theater Academy in Helsinki. Koutonen moves between production, strategy, and artistic development, with a strong foundation in the independent cultural scene. She works closely with artistic processes where care, clarity, and curiosity are central driving forces, and has collaborated with a range of artists, both nationally and internationally.
