ABOUT

Liza Penkova is a Swedish dancer/choreographer/ performer/researacher  based in Gothenburg. She studied dance at The Royal Swedish Ballet school and P.A.R.T.S, and holds a Ma- degree in choreography with focus on dance didactics from Stockholm University of the Arts.

Rooted in physical movement research, often in dialogue with archives from the histories of dance and other arts, she seeks to reveal the uncanny, the untold, the forgotten  within what appears given and unquestioned. She weaves together documents, memories, archives, and lived experience into a single choreographic fabric. At the intersection of art and pedagogy performance/installation/ film becomes a splace for both reflection and discovery:

“Simply put, I use dance as a lens to reveal stories yet untold”.

The foundations of her work are deeply rooted in her experience as a dancer in Brussels, where she spent several years performing with the world-renowned choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker / Rosas. During this time, she developed an appreciation for choreographic counterpoint and structure, nurtured through a close and respectful relationship with music. An meaningful encounter followed with celebrated choreographer Michèle Noiret, whose work in dance-cinéma opened up a world of rich imagery and cross-disciplinary sensibility. She has also participated in several productions by acclaimed Swedish choreographer Helena Franzén. Through this collaboration, Penkova deepened her engagement with movement’s capacity to evoke emotional yet abstract landscapes.

Collaborations with emerging freelance choreographers and artists across Europe, including Georgia Vardarou, Veli Lehtovaara, Pauline Fonsny, Dejana Sekulić, and Meri Pajunpää, have further inspired her to develop her own artistic projects. 

An early experience working as a dancer with the Gothenburg Opera Ballet gave her an understanding of how changes in scale affect the creation and reception of an artists work.

Liza is also one of the initiators behind PhD in One Night, a collective project centered around the poetics of French philosopher Jacques Rancière. This work eventually sparked her interest in research related to dance education, culminating in a MA-thesis on dance literacy.

As chair of Konstkollektivet’s board and a member of Danscentrum Väst, Liza remains deeply engaged in the cultural scene at local, regional, national and internatinal levels.

Liza has been continuously receiving support from various institutions throughout her career, including the Gothenburg City Culture Committee, Västra Götaland Region, the Swedish Arts Grants Committee, the Swedish Arts Council, Danscentrum, Carina Ari minnesfond and other organizations.