Biography
Heidi trained as a dancer at London Studio Centre (Intoto) (1992-95) and holds an MRes (Distinction) in Advanced Practices from Goldsmiths University (2021-23) with the project "Queer Choreo Curation– off-score, wobbles and conviviality," supervised by Irit Rogoff. She is currently part of the artist cohort at Rose Choreographic School at Sadler’s Wells in London (2024-26), directed by Martin Hargreaves.
Since 2000, Heidi has collaborated with Hanna Gillgren under H2DANCE, adopting a transdisciplinary choreographic approach. Together, they have co-created nine full-length international touring performances co-produced by partners in the UK and Nordic countries, alongside various shorter works and commissions. In 2018, H2DANCE initiated and has since curated Fest en Fest, an international festival of expanded choreography that presents Nordic and British artists in the southeast of London, Cambridge, and Colchester.
At the Rose Choreographic School, Heidi continues her queering strategy of working off-score. She is developing a series of works for galleries that explore using just one single note as choreographic material, co-produced by ICA London and Bergen Kunsthall NO. Since 2017, H2DANCE has created two choreographic works entitled Amplified Edition, which centres objects from the black box and the gallery as primary choreographic materials, co-produced by Rosendal Teater, Black Box Teater, DansiT NO, Dansens Hus SE, Dance4, MetalCulture, Roehampton University, and Trinity Laban, UK. These works tour alongside H2DANCE’s participatory work "Strangers & Others/Vi & Oss & Andre" (2017/21), the extended Place Prize piece "DUET" (2013), and their immersive voice and movement work "SAY SOMETHING" (2011).
H2DANCE has presented their works at venues and festivals such as Sadler’s Wells, Dance Umbrella, The Place, Battersea Arts Centre, Nottdance Festival, Dance4, APT Gallery, and Trinity Laban in the UK, as well as Rosendal Teater, Multiple dansefestival, Høstscena NO, La Villette Paris FR, Kanonhallen Copenhagen DK, Monty Antwerp BE, Dock11 Berlin DE, and Mengi Reykjavik IS.
In October 2004, Heidi won the Shrinking Cities competition (German Federal Cultural Foundation and Archplus) in Germany with the project "Cow – the udder way," in collaboration with Ulrike Steven (artist/architect), Gareth Morris (architect), Susanne Thomas (choreographer), Eike Sindlinger (architect), and Paul Cotter (filmmaker). This project was shown at DAZ (The German Architectural Centre) and Leipzig Gallery of Contemporary Arts in the autumn of 2005 and toured New York, Detroit, Cleveland, Manchester, Dortmund, and Montreal.
In 2021-22, Heidi was commissioned by emilyn claid to co-create the work "Untitled," which also resulted in the work "SKINNED," currently touring with an original sound score by Planningtorock. In addition Heidi has delivered commissions for The Place, The Victoria & Albert Museum, Natural History Museum in London, Digital, North Kent Local Authority Arts Partnership and Surrey Dance Collective and for students at Trinity Laban, Transitions and Trinity Laban Dance Collective (TLDC), London Contemporary Dance School, and The National Centre for Circus Arts, Dance, The National Centre for Circus Arts, CAT (centre for advanced training), London Metropolitan University, Dartington College of Arts, London Studio Centre and Manchester Metropolitan University.
As a performer, Heidi has worked for companies such as Duckie, Clod Ensemble, Seven Sisters Group, Colin Poole, and Silence Crossing.
Heidi is currently a research-active lecturer in choreography at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and lectures in Choreography and Practice as Research at Roehampton University.
CV
H2DANCE, choreographer, performer and curator
Mob: +44 (0)7720 436 384
Email: heidi@h2dance.com
Web site: www.h2dance.local & www.festenfest.info
Facebook: www.facebook.com/h2dance
Instagram: Heidi Rustgaard & Fest en Fest
Educations, Workshops & Research:
2024-2026: Artist Cohort Rose Choreographic School, Sadler's Wells
2020 - 2023: (part-time) MRes Advanced Practises, Visual Cultures Department, Goldsmiths University of London. Dissertation: Queer Choreo Curation–off-scores, wobbles and conviviality
2020-2021: Fellowship (FHEA), TL:Augment Pathway Two FHEA, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
2017: The Thinking Body, workshops with Vera Mantero at Roehampton University
2016: One-day Study Lab with Mårten Spångberg at Sadler’s Wells
2015: Workshop with Mårten Spångberg (Studio theory, practice meets thinking together) at Chisenhale Dance Space
2011: Workshop with Guy Cools (dramaturgy) and Linn Snelling (improvisation and voice) during Choreodrome at The Place, London.
2011: Klein technique with Susanne Klein
2007: Workshop with Yasmeen Godder at The Place, London
2005: MADE lab (Music and Dance exchange at Dartington College of Art) Facilitated by Emilyn Claid and Chris Best
1992 - 95: Diploma in Contemporary Dance Performance (In performance company Intoto) London Studio Centre
Choreography and production:
2027: Sitting with/as Dykes
Funded by the Norwegian Arts Council.
Co-production: CODA, Oslo International Dance Festival, RAS NO, SHORT festival IT & Fierce Festival UK.
2026: Slow Riffs: Five Stages of Yes
Funding: Norwegian Arts Council & Fond for Sound and Image (NO), Rose Choreographic School & Trinity Laban Seed Funding (UK). Co-production: Rose Choreographic School, Sadler’s Wells, Fest en Fest (UK) & Fierce Festival (UK), Høstscena Ålesund, RAS Sandnes, Rosendal Teater Trondheim (NO), Köttinspetionen Uppsala (SE)
2024: Sonic Choreographies – one-note F
Funded by Rose Choreographic School, Arts Council England DYCP. Co-production: Bergen Kunsthall, NO, Fest en Fest, Rose Choreographic School, Sadler's Wells. Chorographic Devices - ICA UK.
2022: Amplified Edition N ° 2 (120 min)
Funded by Nordic Culture Fund and Arts Council England
Co-produced by Rosendal Teater NO, Dance4, Roehampton University, Firstsite/Colchester Arts Centre Colchester, Peterborough Museum/METAL Peterborough UK
2021: Vi og Oss og Andre (30 min)
Funded by Norwegian Arts Council - Fond for Lyd og Bilde
Co-produced by Sentralen Oslo NO
2019: Amplified Edition (50 min)
Funded by Arts Council England & Nordic Culture Fund, Det Norske Utenriksdepartementet
Co-produced by Rosendal Teater, DansiT and Black Box Teater NO, Dance4, MetalCulture & Earl Street Creative Space, Dansens Hus SE, and Dance All Year Along DK.
2017: Strangers & Others (75 min)
Funded by Arts Council England, Arts Council Norway, Nordic Culture Fund, Region Värmland Sweden, Dance4 Nottingham UK and supported via South East Dance and Jerwood Charitable Foundation Dramaturg in Residence programme.
Co-produced by Dance4, Laban Theatre and Metal UK, Nordic House Iceland, Region Värmland and Dansens Hus Sweden, Bergen Dansesenter and Liikelaituri Finland.
2015: STAGING AGES (55 min)
Funded by Arts Council England, Norwegian Arts Council, Swedish Arts Council and Region Värmland, Sweden.
Co-produced by Riksteatern, Karlstad Sweden, DansiT, Trondheim Norway, Trestle Arts Base, St Albans, DanceEast Ipswich, The Place London and Pavilion Dance South West, Bournemouth.
2014: SAY SOMETHING (children) (30 min)
Funded by SEANSE, SPENN, Norwegian Arts Council - Kunstløftet NO
2013: DUET (55 min)
Funded by Arts Councils of England, Norway and Sweden, Region Värmland Sweden and Fond for Lyd og Bilde Norway.
Co-production DansiT Trondheim Norway, Studiotrade Cologne Germany, Dans i Värmland Karlstad Sweden, South East Dance and The Place UK.
Supported by Escalator East to Edinburgh and The British Council Edinburgh Showcase.
2012: DUET / The Place Prize finalistand audience vote winner (20 min)
DUET was commissioned for The Place Prize for dance sponsored by Bloomberg,
2011: SAY SOMETHING (60 min)
Funded by Arts Council of England, Nordic Arts and Culture Fund, Norwegian Arts Council, Swedish Arts Council and Buskerud Fylkeskommune, Fond for Lyd og Bilde (Norway), Säffle Kommun, Dans i Värmland (Sweden) and Arts and Grants Kensington and Chelsea (UK). Arts Council England, Nordic Arts and Culture Fund, Norwegian Arts Council, Swedish Arts Council, DanceDigital, Buskerud Fylkeskommune, Säffle Kommun, Dans i Värmland, The Royal Norwegian Embassy, Swedish Embassy, Arts and Grants Kensington and Chelsea and Fond for Lyd og Bilde NO.
Co-produced by Choreodrome and Something Happening at The Place, Scenerommet, NO Union Scene NO, Medborgarhuset, Säffle SE, Devir CAPA, PT, Hextable Dance, Laban Theatre, London Studio Centre and Goldsmiths College, UK
2007: To Die For (55 min)
Co-production: Hedmark Teater Norway
Funded by: Statens Kulturråd and Värmlandsoperan, Sweden and Royal Norwegian Embassy
Supported by Laban Theatre and Greenwich Dance Agency, UK
2005: På Gränsen (55 min)
Co-production Dans i Värmland and Värmlandsoperan Sweden.
2004: COW the udder way (10 days)
Shrinking Cities, reinventing urbanism competition, 2004
Funded by German Fedural Cultural Foundation
Award: Winning entry
2004: Silent Movie (55 min)
Funded by The Arts Council England, London (development and touring) and Embassy of Sweden.
Supported by Laban
2002: Patience (20 min)
The Place Resolutions!
2000: Two (30 min)
Funded by Millennium Festival Awards for All.
Supported by Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and The Jerwood Space
Curation:
2026: Fest en Fest 2026
Funded by Arts Council England, Finnish Institute, Embassy of Sweden, Royal Norwegian Embassy, and the Flemish Government. Supported by Rose Choreographic School, VSSL, APT Gallery, Trinity Laban, University of Roehampton, South East Dance and Colchester Arts Centre.
2025: Bastard Brunches
Funded and co-produced by Bastard Festival and DansiT Trondheim, NO
2024: Fest en Fest 2024
Funded by the Göethe Institute, the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the Swedish Embassy, the Finnish Institute, The Place and Roehampton University.
Supported by APT Gallery, Independent Dance, Rose Choreographic School, Sadler’s Wells, and Metal & Water.
2023: Fest en Fest – LAB.
Funded by the Nordic Culture Fund, the Swedish and Royal Norwegian Embassies, and the Finnish Institute. Partnering with Sadler’s Wells and Dance Umbrella London.
2022: FEST EN FEST - PERFORM EUROPE. Feminist Futures Towards antiracist and intersectional stages.
Funded by Perform Europe, an EU-funded project
2022: Fest en Fest 2022
Funded by Arts Council England, Embassy of Sweden London, Royal Norwegian Embassy, Embassy of Iceland, Finnish Institute, Cambridge Junction.
Partnering with APT Gallery, No Format Gallery, VSSL, Trinity Laban, Cambridge Junction, Sadler’s Wells, Roehampton University, Firstsite, Goldsmiths University of London
2022: Fest en Fest - YOUTH – FÔLEGO
Funded by Iceland Norway Lichtenstein Grants, EEA Grants Norway and Portugal.
Partnering with Academia de Produtores Culturais Lisbon.
2021: Fest en Fest - LAB
Funded by Arts Council England, Royal Norwegian Embassy, Embassy of Sweden, London Contemporary Dance School, Roehampton University and Cambridge Junction.
2020: Fest en Fest 2020
Funded by Arts Council England, Vision Mixers, Nordic Culture Fund, London Contemporary Dance School, Embassy of Sweden, Royal Norwegian Embassy.
Supported by Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Cambridge Junction, London Contemporary Dance School, Goldsmiths University of London, Colchester Arts Centre, Roehampton University, Gaff@The Fuel Tank, Shapes Lewisham
2018: Fest en Fest 2018 (3 days)
Funded by London Contemporary Dance School, Opstart Nordic Culture Fund, Royal Norwegian Embassy, Embassy of Sweden.
Supported by Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, The Albany, Goldsmiths, University of London - MARs (Mountain of Art Research).
Choreography (commissions):
2022: SKINNED (40 min)
Commissioned and performed by Emilyn Claid. Funded by Arts Council England
2019/20: un- sound (25 min)
Commissioned by Transition Dance Company, Trinity Laban
2013: The Collective (20 min)
Commissioned by Surrey Dance Collective
2011: ON/OFF (30 min)
Commissioned by NKLAAP (North Kent Local Authority Arts Partnership)
2010: Choir Project:Attention! (30 min)
Commissioned by The Place for their 40th Anniversary
2008: Left Behind (30 min)
Commissioned by BIGdance, Natural History Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum
2004: Choreographus Interruptus (60 min)
Commissioned by Guardians of Doubt
2003: Six White Chairs (10 min)
Commissioned by The Wapping Project
Choreography (students):
2024: Are you sitting comfortably (30 min)
Trinity Laban Dance Collective, MA Dance students, Trinity Laban
2022: Oblique Transmutations (25 min)
BA3 students at Trinity Laban
2020: UN-SOUND (30 min)
Transitions Dance Company Trinity Laban
2018: Settlement (20 min)
Dance Diploma students at Trinity Laban
2017: Groups & Landscapes (20 min)
BA3 students at Trinity Laban
2016: Feast (20 min)
Music and dance students, Colab project at Trinity Laban
2015: 9 Women (15 min)
Trinity Laban One-Year Program
2014: To Die For (30 min) rework of H2DANCE’s production for 1st and 2nd-year students, London Contemporary Dance School
2011: Untitled (10 min), 2nd year students, London Contemporary Dance School.
2009: Say What You Like… (60 min), 3rd year students, National Centre for Circus Arts, Watch This Space, National Theatre
2009: Breed (20 min), 3rd year students, London Metropolitan University
2008: I will! (6 min), BA2 students, London Studio Centre
2007: Induction (6 min),BA2 students, London Studio Centre
2005: Flock 2 (6 min), BA2 students, London Studio Centr
2005: Flock (20 min), BA2 students, Dartington College of Art, England
2004: Grey (20 min), BA3 students, Manchester Metropolitan University
Residencies and Touring:
2024 - 2026: Artist cohort, Rose Choreographic School, Sadler's Wells, UK
2024: Bergen Kunsthall NO
2023: Dance Umbrella UK
2023: Sadlers Wells UK
2023: ICA London UK
2019 & 2022: Rosendal Teater NO
2019, 2020 & 2021: Dance4, Nottingham UK
2019 & 2020 & 2021: Metal, Peterborough UK
2019: Black Box teater NO
2019: Reykjavik Dance Festival IS
2019: Multiplié dansefestival, Trondheim NO
2018: Metal, Peterborough UK2018: Dance4, Nottingham UK
2017/18: Dansens Hus, Stockholm SE
2017: Liikeleituri, Tampere FI
2016: Bergen Dansesenter, Bergen NO
2016: Dance4, Nottingham UK
2016: Nordic House Reykjavik ISL
2016: Metal, Peterborough UK
2015: Riksteatern Värmland, Karlstad SE
2015: DansiT, Trondheim NO
2014: Dance East, Ipswitch UK
2014: The Place, London UK
2014: DansiT, Trondheim NO
2014: Pavilion Dance, Bournemouth UK
2012/13: Dancedigital, Essex UK
2013: DansiT, Trondheim NO
2012: Studiotrade/studio 11, Cologne DE
2012: SEANSE, Volda Norway
2010: Union Scene, Drammen NO
2010: Medborgarhuset, Säffle SE
2010: Devir Capa, Faro PT
2010: NES artist residency, Skagaströnd ISL
2010: Choreodrome, The Place London UK
2010: South East Dance, Kent UK
2009: Scenerommet, Vestfossen NO
2008: Choreodrome, The Place London UK
2007: Taipei Artist Village, TW
2006: Choreodrome, The Place London UK
2003: Gaara Dance Foundation, Nairobi KE
Teaching:
2026: Project with MA Dance Students at KHiO - Oslo National Academy NO
2025-2026: 0.4 lecturer in dance practice and choreography at Roehampton University
2023 - 2026: Research Active member of the Faculty of Dance at Trinity Laban
2015-current: Trinity Laban, BA2 & 3 choreography, Independent Projects and Resourcing Performance, MA; Performance Making and Research and Performance, Creative Practise.
2015: London Contemporary Dance School, BA1 Composition
2015: Trinity Laban, London, Rep Extracts on the One-Year Program
2014: University of East London, Urban Dance, BA1 Composition
2006 - 2015: The National Centre for Circus Art, London, 2nd and 3rd Creative movement and composition
2008 - 2016: Trinity Laban, Talk on my own practice.
2012 - 2013: DansiT, Trondheim PRODA -Professional class and Workshop
2012: Den Norske Dansehøyskole (Norwegian College of Dance), Oslo, BA3 Choreography, Release technique and improvisation
2010 - 2012: University of East London, Urban Dance, Choreography and contact improvisation
2005 - 2014: The Place, London, Professional class
2006 - 2014: Greenwich Dance Agency, London, Professional class
2011: Den Norske Dansehøyskole (Norwegian College of Dance), Oslo, Release technique and improvisation
2010: EDge–London Contemporary Dance School, Company classes
2010: University of East London, Architecture, Lecture on site-specific performance, Critic on 2nd and 3rd year students' design projects.
2004, 2008: Millennium Dance 2000, London
Release technique and workshop
2008: Clod Ensemble, London, Company classes, Team building workshop for medical students/performing medicine
2007 - 2008: London Studio Centre, Contact improvisation
2007: Robert Hylton Urban Classicism, London, Company classes
2007: Intoto, London Studio Centre, London, Workshop/repertoire
2006: Gratis Daglig Trening, Oslo, Professional class
2005: Dans i Väst, Gøteborg, Professional class
2005: Independent Dance, London, Professional class
2003: Manchester Metropolitan University
Ballet and release technique
2003: Laban, Release technique
2003: Compagnie Gaara, Nairobi, Company class
2001: seven sisters group, London, Company class
Performer:
2026: Yvonne Rainer, Trio A, Tate Modern
2008/2014/2024: Clod Ensemble Director: Suzy Wilson, Composer: Paul Clark
Under Glass, research
The Red Ladies tour the UK and internationally (V&A, ICA, South Bank Centre, Margate Theatre Royal/Turner Contemporary, Malvern Forum Theatre, and Serralves festival in PT)
2006 - 2007: Duckie
Producer: Simon Casson, Directors: Vito Rocco and Mark Whitelaw,
Design: Laura Hopkins, Lights: Kamal Ackarie, Choreography: Rosie Kay, Composer/lyrics: Ian Hill and Ursula Martinez – together with chef Tom Norrington-Davies
The Class Club, Barbican Pit Theatre, London
1999 - 2009: seven sisters group
Choreography: Susanne Thomas, design: Sophie Jump and Ed King, Composer: Phil Durrant.
2008-9: Asterion, Victoria and Albert Museum
2008: Behind The Scenes, research project, London and York
2004: The Forest, Newlands Corner, Guildford. Surry University
2004: Train station, European tour
2001: The Forbidden, Royal Opera House
2001: Ballroom, Royal Festival Hall
2001: Ssssh! The bunker project’ Essex Dance
2001: Stairworks, Wapping Project
2000: 0n stage, The Place Theatre
2000: Double Take 1 and 2, Selfridges
1999: Salome’ St Pancras Chambers, The Place Spring Loaded
2003 : Silence Crossing Choreography: Carolyn Deby, City:Skinned, The Place
2000: Rorschach Group Choreography: Sean King, Research project
1999: Colin Pool Choreography: Colin Pool, Hothouse – laboratory project lead by Victoria Marks
Projects with children and young people:
2006, 2008: Youth Dance England, Choreography workshops, Critic on choreographies
2005: Creative Partnership Kidbrook School
2004: Greenwich Dance Agency Youth project
2004: Stamping Ground Dance 4 Nottingham
1999, 2003: Attic Dansestudio Norway Workshops
2003: Chisenhale Out Reach, Can you see me now for Central Foundation Girl School, London
2002: Gallery 37 Assistant leader for dance project, lead by Susanne Thomas, Birmingham
Grants:
2019: Diversestipend from Statens Kunstnerstipend Norway
2017: Artist International Development Fund Arts Council England
2015: Diversestipend from Statens Kunstnerstipend Norway
2012: Diversestipend from Statens Kunstnerstipend Norway
2010: Diversestipend from Statens Kunstnerstipend Norway
2007: British Council/Taiwan.
2003: UNESCO- ASCHBERG Foundation
2003: Norwegian Foreign Ministry
Publications:
queer worlds moving bodies: Emilyn Claid and Heidi Rustgaard: Podcast
Are we overprotecting our audiences? Exeunt Magazine. Project: Staging Ages
The Wapping Project: On Paper. Project: Six White Chairs
Cause and Effect - Visualizing Sustainability: Gestalten. Project: ON/OFF
Shrinking Cites Volume 2: Interventions. Project: Cow the udder way