Astronaut

About

Astronaut is a short, spatially choreographed dance work by Carl Olof Berg with specially composed music by Mariam Wallentin and costume design by Maja Gunn. Artistically it draws on the physical and psychological tests of the 1960s space race, referencing trials performed on 13 female pilots that yielded notable results in the search for bodies suited to space travel. The production text also connects the inspiration to contemporary space ambitions and Swedish astronauts. The performance is designed for small stages and classroom environments, focusing on bodily tests, moonwalks, and the return to Earth’s gravity. Maja Gunn’s costume concept is highlighted, and the production uses recorded choral singing by the Gothenburg Opera Chorus alongside Wallentin’s score. Conceptually, the piece blends educational elements with stagecraft, centering three dancers who pass through a sequence of drills and exercises. The show has previously toured as a school performance and has been adapted for smaller venues.