Photo: Bray Jorstad
Gravity in Your Eyes
'Gravity in Your Eyes' is a new collaborative project of dance and theatre that follows two sisters and the forces that guide their lives. With a cast of four actors and four dancers, the piece explores themes of independence and belonging. Anya Saugstad (Co-Director and Choreographer) and Sophia Saugstad (Co-Director and Playwright) collaborate to create a world that is described through both of their mediums, directorial methods, and imaginations. Other than the elaborate lip syncs they created as kids, this is Anya and Sophia's first project together as sisters.
Photo: Bray Jorstad
Project Created by: Directed by Anya and Sophia Saugstad.
Choreographed by Anya Saugstad.
Written by Sophia Saugstad.
Key Artistic Collaborators:
Performed by Cassidy Hergott, Eowynn Enquist, Katrina Teitz, Laine Gillies, Nasiv Sall, Sarah Formosa, Sarah Hutton, and Simran Sachar.
Lighting designed by Andie Lloyd.
Outside eye: Leora Morris.
Performance type: This work is built for theatre
How do you define this work: Live contemporary dance and theatre.
Length of performance: 55 minutes
Audience type: General Audience
General Technical Requirements: 'Gravity in Your Eyes' can be adaptable to many spaces. The work is best with a marley dance or wood floor, and a lighting set up. If the venue is larger than 200 seats 'Gravity in Your Eyes' may require hung mics or 8 body mics to pickup performers live voices. The work also has 2-3 lamps which require 2-3 power extensions (one from stage left and one from stage right) and if possible the ability to be controlled from the lighting board.
Set: One wood dining room table, 7 chairs, 2-3 lamps.
Alternative Venues/Spaces/Outdoors: This work is best for a theatre setting however if the floor is wood or Marley the work can be presented in other indoor spaces.
Required amount of time for tech set up: 2-3 hours
Number of Performers on tour (including choreographer): 9
Number of Support Staff on Tour: 1
Availabilities: 2025 Spring season, 2025/26 Season, and 2026/27 Season
Anya Allegra Saugstad
Anya Allegra Saugstad is a dancer and choreographer based in Vancouver BC, on the unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh', Stó:lō and Səlílwətaʔ/ Selilwitulh, and xwməθkwəyə̓ m First Nations.
Anya trained at ArtsUmbrella, and has a BFA in Dance from Simon Fraser University. As a dancer, Anya has toured with Action at a Distance / Vanessa Goodman through the USA, Canada, and Germany performing 'Graveyards and Gardens' and 'Core/Us' (2021-2023).
Anya Saugstad is the Artistic Director of a non profit dance organization called 'Furious Grace Dance Theatre', (originally Judith Garay’s company 'Dancers Dancing'). Furious Grace / Anya Saugstad create live collaborative performance works in theaters and outdoors. Anya builds vigorous and physical ensemble choreography to express stories that encompass strength, celebration, and yearning.
Anya has created works for Ballet Edmonton, ArtsUmbrella, LamonDance, Simon Fraser University, Method Dance Company, and Coastal City Ballet. Anya’s work has been presented through The Dance Deck (Belle Spirale), Dance West Network, To-Love in, The Scotiabank Dance Center, Crimson Coast Dance, The Rotary Center for the Arts, and has toured her work across BC and presented her work in Montreal, Toronto, and Alberta. Anya Saugstad is grateful to be the recipient of the Iris Garland Emerging Choreographer Award for 2023/24.
Performance History & Upcoming Performances
June 2024: an excerpt of 'Gravity in Your Eyes' was shown at 'Dancing on the Edge Festival', The Firehall Arts Theatre in Vancouver BC.
Project Details
Outreach Activities
Dance Theatre workshops led by Anya and Sophia Saugstad:
- Workshops for Ages 8-12: 1-1.5hrs, Teen workshops: 1-2hrs, Young professionals in dance and theatre: 2-3hrs, open experience adult workshops: 1.5-2hrs.
- we are interested in all ages interested in dance theatre! workshops for young ages include structured creative dance, theatre games, and composition and choreographic tasks for young people. Workshops for young professionals in dance and theatre includes an improvisational somatic class, theatre and voice exercises and games, choreography and movement, text generation, and learning rep from the work. Workshops for adults include a longer somatic improvisational flow where participants are guided through images and ideas that influence movement (think yoga flow but dance!), and learning and experimenting with tools for choreographic creation and writing.