Heidi Rustgaard

It was a joy to perform a first draft of SLOW RIFFS / FIVE STAGES OF YES together with @ese_andthevooduupeople_ and @_laura_burns at Fest en Fest 2026. SLOW RIFFS / FIVE STAGES OF YES is a transdisciplinary sonic–choreographic work developed from Heidi’s one-note concept. Positioned between concert and performative installation, it unfolds as a spatial sound environment that continuously slows down—an immersive landscape of sculptural bodies and resonant sound that audiences can navigate. The piece reimagines the electric guitar as a gendered cultural artefact, queering its use by limiting its sonic material to a single note. By tuning every string to one note, the work subverts “guitar hero” tropes and masculine-coded ideas of mastery. Sound becomes a space of intimacy, care, and refusal rather than dominance or spectacle. Through the sustained repetition of a single note, the piece distils classical dramaturgy into an extended inhabitation of a shared, destabilising state of vibration. The choreography is minimal, sculptural, and concept-driven. Movement emerges from the body’s relationship to the guitar. Recurring gestures—stroking, rubbing, gliding, and strumming—produce resistance, vibration, and presence, blurring the boundaries between instrumental play and embodied pleasure while exploring sound as both physical and affective material. The work will have its full premiere at Høstscena Ålesund in September 2026, followed by performances at Köttinspektionen Uppsala (SE), RAS Sandnes, and Rosendal Teater (NO) in 2026/27. Concept & Choreography: Heidi Rustgaard
Sound Design: @rossflightsound 
Costume & Set Design: @ulrikesteven @what_if_projects 
Dramaturg: @no_other_thrill Funded by: Norwegian Arts Council, Fond for Lyd og Bilde, Trinity Laban Seed Funding, and Rose Choreographic School
Co-production: Høstscena Ålesund, RAS Sandnes, Rosendal Teater (NO), and Köttinspektionen Uppsala (SE) & Fest en Fest (UK) 📸: @documentedbyhenrit @kulturradet @fondforlydogbilde @hostscena @regionalarenaforsamtidsdans @kottinspektionen @rosendalteater @rosechoreographicschool @festenfest @trinitylaban

Before Fest en Fest 2026, I had the pleasure of working with the brilliant MA Dance students at KHiO (Oslo National Academy of the Arts). Over three weeks, we worked with my one-note concepts—focusing on a single musical note and a single movement. Beginning with simple actions like sitting and singing one note, we gradually expanded the material into plural forms, attending to the multiplicity that exists within the singular. Throughout the process, we explored non-normative temporalities and the ways different rhythms and materials encounter one another. Drawing on queer theory—particularly Elizabeth Freeman’s idea of queer time as a resistance to chrononormativity—we introduced open processes with varied speeds, durations, and relational possibilities, working against binaries and highlighting what lies in between. We concluded with a sharing of performance scores that keep the choreography open, flexible, and responsive, shaped by time, space, and relationships in the moment of performing, and remaining in an ongoing process of becoming. Thank you to Lea Sine Andersen, Eleni Kanavou, Debi Helmi Irene Orkvokki Kuisma, Maia Means, and Ole Marius Støle for your openness, curiosity, and commitment, and for the thoughtful way you unfolded the score in the moment of doing. And thanks to Torunn Helene Robstad for the invitation, I had an amazing time working with you all. @el.kanav 
@p3arlpansy 
@theoneandonlysnulf 
@leasande 
@maiameans 
@torunnhelenerobstad @khio @khio_dans

Fest en Fest 2026 Introduces: Heidi Rustgaard PERFORMANCE SUN 29 MARCH, 6PM APT Gallery SLOW RIFFS / FIVE STAGES OF YES SLOW RIFFS / FIVE STAGES OF YES is a transdisciplinary sonic choreographic work working from Heidi’s one-note concept. Positioned between concert and performative installation, it unfolds as a spatial sound environment that continuously slows down—an immersive landscape of sculptural bodies and resonant sound that the audience can navigate. The piece reimagines the electric guitar as a gendered cultural artefact, queering its use by limiting its sonic material to a single note. By tuning every string to one note, the work subverts “guitar hero” tropes and masculine-coded notions of mastery. Sound becomes a space of intimacy, care, and refusal rather than dominance or spectacle. Through the sustained repetition of a single note, the piece distils classical dramaturgy into an extended inhabitation of a collective, destabilising state of vibration. The choreography is minimal, sculptural, and concept-driven. Movement emerges from the body’s relationship to the guitar. Recurring gestures, such as stroking, rubbing, gliding, and strumming, produce resistance, vibration, and presence and blur the boundaries between instrumental play and embodied pleasure, exploring sound as both physical and affective material. For more info and tickets: @heidirustgaard @h2dance___ @_laura_burns @ese_andthevooduupeople_ @rossflightsound @michaelkitchinn @h2hanna @stephhdances #choreography #festival #LGBTQIA+ #dance

Thank you to everyone who joined us last night at to celebrate the launch of Fest en Fest, taking place 21–29 March, Brighton, London & Colchester. The programme is now live and tickets are available to book! Find all the details at (link in bio). A special thank you to @_independentdance and @siobhandaviesstudios for supporting the program launch and to everyone who came along to celebrate with us. We can’t wait to see you at the festival! #expandedchoreography #dance #performance @siobhandaviesstudios @_independentdance @h2hanna @michaelkitchinn @heidirustgaard @festenfest @aptstudiosgallery @vsslstudio @rosechoreographicschool @southeastdance @colchartscentre

“Overlooked and told horrid words. Anti-queerness is only found in humans. Humans are fluid, we are nature. Nature is queer.” “Everybody (in school) asks us what we want to be. Nobody asks us who we want to be.” (Words from trans youth, 14-16) Thanks to South East Dance for hosting us so generously during our Perfect Flower workshops. We’re so grateful to the young participants for their creativity and imagination, and to everyone who supported the process along the way. We can’t wait to be back at SED for Fest en Fest, 21–22 March. 
@southeastdance @festenfest @ulrikesteven @heidirustgaard @what_if_projects @manualbrecht @zanni_ct #queerecology #youth #performance #costume

✨ You’re warmly invited to the launch of Fest en Fest 2026 ✨ Join us at Siobhan Davies Studios, London on Friday 27 February from 7pm for a convivial evening celebrating this year’s Fest en Fest programme, curated by Hanna Gillgren and Heidi Rustgaard / H2DANCE. The evening will begin with a short welcome from Hanna and Heidi, offering glimpses into the performances, experiments, and conversations to come during the festival week:
21–22 March in Brighton and 24–29 March in London and Colchester. From there, the night will unfold into mingling, drinks, music, and informal exchanges… and perhaps even some dancing. 🕺💫 
Drinks will be served. 🥂 📍 Location
Siobhan Davies Studios (Research Studio)
85 St George’s Road
London SE1 6ER 
🚇 Elephant & Castle (5 min walk) We can’t wait to see you there! 💛 Graphics: Kaisa Lassinaro @festenfest @h2hanna @michaelkitchinn @heidirustgaard @h2dance___ @southeastdance @aptstudiosgallery @siobhandaviesstudios @rosechoreographicschool @trinitylaban @vsslstudio #choreography #expandedchoreography #dance #performance

Fest en Fest X Undisciplined⚡ ⁠ ⁠ This year our annual Undisciplined festival arrives at The Dance Space with a new friend: @festenfest , the international festival of expanded choreography.⁠ ⁠ Together, over two days, we will be presenting performances, discussions, workshops and social gatherings exploring identity, memory and encounters with the body.⁠ ⁠ What: Fest en Fest x Undisciplined festival⁠ When: Sat 21 & Sun 22 March⁠ Where: The Dance Space Brighton⁠ Tickets: £PayWhatYouCan & FREE⁠ ⁠ See the South East Dance website or link in bio for the full programme⁠ ⁠ #Undisciplined #FestEnFest #BrightonArts #Brighton

Perfect Flower workshop 📅 Saturday 21 – Sunday 22 February 2026
🕚 11 AM – 4 PM Join architect Ulrike Steven and choreographer Heidi Rustgaard at the Weston Research Space, The Dance Space, South East Dance. ✨ Free event Calling LGBTQIA+ young people for Perfect Flower workshop. This weekend workshop for LGBTQI+ young people aged 14–21, is an invitation to start conversations and create costumes from recycled cardboard and non-toxic spray paint. The costumes you create will form part of a larger project in 2027 for Fest en Fest – YOUTH, a festival by and for young people, run by H2DANCE. At our Perfect Flower workshop you will: * Collaborate in an immersive weekend of workshops that play with identity, challenge gender norms, and encourage self-expression * Build a supportive network of queer young people * Explore sustainability through a queer ecological* lens. * Be a part of the creative festival-making team for Fest-en-Fest Youth, having your say * Learn from established artists and festival makers * Take part in Fest-en-Fest 2026 at The Dance Space, where you will meet the artists, watch the work and join the team behind the scenes   Participants are also invited to attend Fest en Fest 2026 at South East Dance on 21–22 March to experience the festival, meet artists, and learn about festival-making.  Perfect Flower is a project by architects what-if: projects – Ulrike Steven together with choreographer Heidi Rustgaard. If you have questions about the workshop please contact Naomi Poole, Programme & Hires Support at South East Dance, at [email protected] *Queer ecology challenges norms of sexuality, gender and biology, emphasising the interconnectedness of humans, plants and animals, positioning us alongside plant life rather than above it. 📸@HenriT #queerecology #performance #costumes #archtecture #queeryouth @southeastdance @ulrikesteven @what_if_projects @heidirustgaard @festenfest @h2dance___

✨ SAVE THE DATES ✨ 21–29 March 2026  FEST EN FEST IS BACK We’re thrilled to share that Fest en Fest has received Arts Council funding again!  The next edition is in partnership with South East Dance, APT Gallery, Colchester Arts Centre, Trinity Laban Dance Collective & Rose Choreographic School. More details to follow soon! While this funding is a fantastic boost, we still need your help to bring the festival to life. If you’d like to support, your donation, big or small, will make a real difference. Your generosity helps us keep ticket prices low, making it possible for people who find cost a barrier to attend, and supports our alumni platform, giving recent graduates the opportunity to take part in the festival. Head to the link in our bio @festenfest to contribute! Stay tuned for more details soon! 📷 Perfect Flower @ulrikesteven , @what_if_projects , @documentedbyhenrit @aceagrams @aptstudiosgallery @southeastdance @colchartscentre @trinitylaban @roehamptondance_ma @roehamptonmfa @uni_roehampton @rosechoreographicschool #choreography #expandedchoreography #performance #dance #dancewriter #queer #crip #decolonial #curation

Tusen takk to Praxis Oslo for hosting me and offering time and space to develop Sitting with/as Dykes. Huge gratitude to the Oslo dykes Ann-Christin Kongsness, Marte Sterud, Steffi Lund, Maja Roel, Sunniva Moen Rørvik, and Anne Panda Gjems Rudi for spending time with me in the studio. 💚 And thank you to Ilse Ghekiere and Bekka for hosting the sharing, and to everyone who came and sat with us, and shared their experiences. Feeling grateful and excited about the potential of this project and everything that’s unfolding. @praxisoslo @rosechoreographicschool @ankikongen @martereiste @steffilund @maja.roel @sroervik @annepandadans 📸 @ilse_trees_ghekiere Sound: @rossflightsound and Heidi Rustgaard #dance #choreography #performance #queer #lesbian #dyke

PRAXIS Oslo Residency sharing! 24. okt. 2025, 15:00 – 17:00 PRAXIS Oslo, Vestre Elvebakke 10, 0182 Oslo, Norway Come join us for an informal sharing of the early stages of a new Sitting Score: Sitting with/as Dykes — followed by a conversation. Together, we’ll sit, reflect, and exchange around themes of stillness, queerness, presence, and participatory performance. Sign up: www.praxisoslo.no/event-details/praxis-residency-sharing-with-heidi-rustgaard @praxisoslo @rosechoreographicschool

Thank you so much, @anna_thu_schmidt , for the kind invitation to lead a workshop as part of @praxistrondheim . It was a real pleasure to share my sitting score with such open-hearted, curious artists. Thanks to everyone who joined, who sat with me, with the score, and with one another. Beautiful moments of quiet connection. #choreography #curation #sittingscores #queering @dansit_koreografisk_senter @rosechoreographicschool @praxistrondheim