Hi my name is Katie Jacobson, and I am writing you from my apartment in Stockholm, Sweden where I currently live and work in Cullberg as a dancer. Originally from a small town in Northern California I have been abroad for the last ten years working and studying in California, Israel, Belgium,The Netherlands and Sweden.

Career Highlights:
Touring the United States with Deborah Hay ́s `Figure A Sea`

Performing Ezster Salamons ́Reproduction ́ and getting to explore male gender stereotypes and find my drag persona

Participating in `Dancers Talks ́ a panel discussion on the labor of the dancer moderated by Bojana Kunst

Working with Ian Kaler, Stephane Peeps, and Jam Rostron to create ́On the Cusp` Learning and practicing Alexander technique

Creating and performing ́The Listeners ́ with Alma Soderberg and her whole team! Learning to sing and use my voice in the process

Teaching presentation techniques on voice and physical presence for the Kvinnors Byggforum (Swedish organisation for women, trans and people identify as women in the business sector)

Traveling and bonding with my dear friends and colleagues
Bolstering my personal practice through the use and inspiration of the Alexander Technique Learning my rights as a dancer within Sweden and the institution Im woking with

Study to Career Journey-

In the my third year of Artez, where I studied I started manically auditioning for companies all over Europe. Longing to stay in EU and start my career as a professional I auditioned for all kinds of work. In the process of rejection and some acceptance I started to see some values, methods and work place ethics that I found myself being drawn to. I started to understand I was interested in collaboration based processes and could start to decipher which companies were geared towards that and which were not. Eventually, after getting a contract I did one last audition for Cullberg, not thinking id get in but mainly for the experience and that I got to miss a class I really despised that Friday in school. Pleasantly surprised I did the audition and felt generally calm and at peace with myself throughout the day. I didn’t have my usual appetite suppressing heart pound and left feeling like Id taken a really cool long workshop. The next day I received a mail saying I got in! Excited and shocked I accepted. During my apprenticeship I got to do a lot of performances and tours unexpectedly and at the end of the year when I thought I was about to move back to NL they asked if I wanted to stay on for the next project. I said yes and was happy but also sad it wasn’t a full contract. That apprentice year was amazing but also intense and felt like a constant audition. I came back for the project but that turned into a one year contract. As a US citizen the whole visa thing was always a silent stressor in the back of my mind. Will I be able to stay put somewhere? One year turned into two and then three and now Im approaching my 6th season! Though Ive had a huge privilege to work full time onwards from graduating there have many as many challenges as there have been beautiful moments along the way.

Advice Id give to my graduating self and the graduates of 2020-

1. You do not have to take feedback and unsolicited advice from everyone! Timing and boundaries are completely acceptable things to request of your colleagues and collaborators and will bolster your sense of agency.

2. Speak up sweet one! It’s not necessary to tie up every statement with a bow and serve it on a silver platter. Your opinion, observations and intuitions are valuable.

3. Find mentors and trusted elders whom you seek out and resonate with. Even if its just a coffee, it helps

4. Find a local community, reach out, learn the language of the place you live. You’ll feel a lot more connected to the place you live

5. Find restorative practices for your body and mind. This will be ongoing but also keep you going:)

Hope for the future of dance in 2020-

That we take the opportunity to slow down, get out of the studio and reflect on the vital practices that dance has to offer in terms of building community, culture, art and health. that we look to whats near us, our local communities, maybe those who haven’t had the access to dance that ticket holders in the opera have. that we meet them, listen, learn, and teach.

Dear gradates, I really congratulate you and wish you the best for your coming journeys. No two are alike and each take the turns it needs. Remember that this is a community and the best we can do is support each other and ourselves. Some days it’s hard but a kind word of feedback after a performance or a run can go a long way. An offering of body work to a colleague in need. Noticing someone else’s hard ships. Tiredness. Progression. We are all in this in together and above all humans. Keep yourselves well and curious and reach out if you need help. I find it hard to compile all my thoughts and advice in this one text but heres a tidbit!

All the best and a lot of warmth, Katie