MYKA was established in 2013 by My Grönholdt (SE/DK) and Katya R. D. Nielsen (FO/DK), dancers and choreographers, educated from The Danish National School for Performing Arts. The company is now led by My Grönholdt.
MYKA produces innovative performances and installations for the youngest audiences and the grown ups in their lives – while communicating society’s current topic. The experiences occurs in sensual and magical universes with inspiration from natura, animals and natural phenomena. It is important that both short and tall people feel inspired and challenges.
MYKA is a experiential piece of perfoming art, that creates exceptional universes for families – designed to strengthen the bonds between the family members. MYKA provides a calm and magical space which truly brings both children and the grownups in their lives a collective meditative calmness, physical tranquility, mental stimulation and a true feeling of closeness.
MYKA opens the eyes to a magical part of reality for everyone; big and small. At the heart of every show is a deep wish to share something heartfelt – as the company unfolds a current, relevant and important topic by way of a spiritual, magical universe. This creative transformation is inspired by nature, by animals and by natural phenomena.
MYKA’s core goal is to create real, close and meaningful interaction with its audiences – big and small. The children reflect themselves in their parents’ experience. They feel their parents’ experience, with a perception that is both mental and physical. For this reason, artistic quality is vital for the company. This results in is naturally ambitious, high-quality shows.
In parallel with this line of thinking, MYKA avoids all hierarchy in the artistic creation process. This means that the scenography is just as present as the choreography. Each part of the experience carries equal weight. It also means that the experiences can be equally effective in both performing arts spaces and visual arts spaces. The scenography is often 360 degrees space-installations – mostly created with direct inspiration from the visual arts.
The Method
MYKA specialises in creating magical, aesthetic and sensory performing arts experiences with exceptionally high artistic values. MYKA’s work is based upon its extensive research and studies concerning children’s’ perception. These studies have show that children naturally mirror their parent’s experiences. This means that should for example, the parents become bored when watching a piece of theatre made for children, this affects the child’s experience. The research indicates that children from as young as 4 months old experiences have a full sensory reaction to their parents, and that their development is highly dependent on sensory stimulation.
MYKA begins with its research and thereafter draws on all the creative resources at its disposal in the development of its work. The creative team also always make sure to include consultants and experts in every field they work in. The creative process is based on co-creation, brainstorming with artistic director My Grönholdt taking detailed notes throughout the process to reach clarity in the creative coherence of the work that emerges.
MYKA’s works are always about a very current topic. A strong example is climate change – a subject vitally important to many people, yet one which can seem very overwhelming for both children and adults.
In MYKA’s universe, is translating the important and topical issues are translated, and brought to a magical universe – and suddenly Polar bears appear on stage and children and adults are transported to a new world, where big topics can be more easily digested, experienced and understood.
About My Grönholdt
My Grönholdt (1986) is a Swedish choreographer, dancer and performer based in Denmark. She is educated from The Danish National School for Performing Arts 2011, with internships with Sasha Waltz, Troika Ranch in Berlin and Katie Duck in Amsterdam.
Privately, My is a mother of three, trained yoga teacher specializing in birth, pregnancy, postpartum, children and families and has for the past 12 years taught dance for children, adolescents and families. My has been selected to be part of the Young Artistic Elite (Den Unge Kunstneriske Elite) by The Danish Arts Foundation, which has also supported My and MYKA as part of the House Artist Scheme (Huskunstnerordningen).
MYKAs Board
Lisbeth Klixbüll, chairperson
Lisbeth is managing director at the theatre Aaben Dans in Roskilde.
Trine Heller Jensen
Trine is festival manager for PASSAGE Festival in Helsingør.
Anna Ross Agner
Anna is pedagogue/educator within performing arts and teacher.
Adelaide Bentzon
Adelaide is festival director at Horsens Theatre Festival for children and young people.
About the web page
The design of this web page has been done by Nete Banke from Imperiet, and the web page has been set up and coded by Jan Hesselvig Krogh
