Breathtakingly Honest and Brutally Humoristic

Ann Thayer Crosset (born 1954), dancer/choreographer/performer. An award-winning graduate of the Juilliard School of Performing Arts in New York, 1976; she performs, choreographs, teaches, as well as develops dance networks around the world. In Denmark and Sweden, she also works with theatre, TV, and film. Her credits include: Lars von Trier Dancer in the Dark; the first artist with a dance background to become member of The Danish National Theatre Council and the recipient of the prestigious three-year artist grant from The Danish Arts Foundation.

Artistic Profile
”Through many years of work in the service of dance, Ann Crosset has had a colossal meaning for Danish cultural life,” opines one reviewer.  “A volcano that erupts daily,” remarks a colleague.

An outstanding performer in solo and in ensemble work, Crosset works within the avant-garde crossover genre. As a collaborator with the prominent South African avant-garde director Robyn Orlin, she created the solo The Future maybe bright but not necessarily orange ….  Here, her charisma and humour go through the roof of a bus as it splashes the audience with a deeply original performance.  With the Robyn Orlin City Theater Ensemble, she opened the Centre National de la Danse in Paris and the Museum of World Culture in Gothenburg .  She has also worked with director Ong Ken Sen in Search: Hamlet at the Kronborg Castle.
 
As a choreographer, her explicit movement design and ability to put an artistic frame around the whole performance make people want to work with her again and again. ” Ann has so much to contribute and the actors simply love working with her! And so do I,” states Swedish director, Ragnar Lyth, of her work in  Molière's Tartuffe, which opened in Malmö  State Theatre and ran for sold out performances in September-October 2005.

Ann Crosset is also a sought-after teacher.  In Denmark, she contributes to the education of young professionals at the University of Copenhagen, The Danish National Theatre School, The Royal Theatre’s Opera Academy, and the Royal Ballet Schools in Denmark.

Current Productions
(2006 – 2007)

As program designer
Interact Dance Project for young dancers with Performing Arts Center, Amman, Jordan throughout 2007

As performer
The Future maybe bright…but not necessarily orange; Robyn Orlin City Theatre
Børsens - The Road Show (see Erik Pold's profile)
New Values premier October 2006 (Copenhagen), November 2006 (National Tour)

As choreographer
Karriären by Thor Bjørn Flug, Malmö State Theatre 2006
Den Stundesløse, Holberg Opera/Det Danske Teater, February 2007 (National Tour)

Reviews Extracts

“Dynamic Ann Crosset acts the American appropriate to the occasion in her role as a snappy senior international expert.”
Berlingske Tidende (DK), Børsen Roadshow

“The brutal honesty of  Juilliard-trained Crosset’s neo-modern moves is breathtaking”
The Citizen (Johannesburg/SA), Take the bus ride of your life

”Superb educationalist…imparts skills and a positive sense of self image. Everyone came out of her classes with a sense of self worth. Perceptive teacher, choreographer, and open-hearted human being.”
The Star (Johannesburg/SA)