BLY performers bio

Ali Djabbary
Djabbary was born in 1965 in Iran, and a resident in Norway since 1988. As a freelance artist, Djabbary has worked on various projects, both in theatre, radio, television and film. He was active in the artist group Vincent Lunge Institute, in the 90s.


Djabbary is a Rudolf Steiner pedagog in art and design. Since 1997 Djabbary has been associated with the Nordic Black Theater, and has worked with the artist collective Verdensteatret, since 1999. Djabbary works with visual art, installation and performance art.


Cecilie Lindeman Steen
Steen is educated at the Academy of the Arts in Oslo (1985). She has since worked as a dancer connected to the free performing arts field, with the exception of two years in Carte Blanche, as well as engagements at Riksteatret, Rikskonsertene and Det Norske Teatret. Steen has participated in well over a hundred productions as well as individual performances, improvisations, events and concerts. Her practice includes national, Nordic and European tours.


Besides her own projects, Steen has collaborated with a large number of choreographers and other artists. Since 1984, she has had a close collaboration with Ina Christel Johannessen. In recent years, she has worked in performances and projects in collaboration with, among others, Shanti Brahmachari, Mia Habib, Kristina Gjems, Heine Avdal and Yukiko Shonisaki / Field Works and Janne-Camilla Lyster.


Ellen Ugelvik
Ugelvik is a pianist who works as a soloist and chamber musician in Europe, USA and Asia. She concentrates on developing and performing new projects in cooperation with international composers and artists.


Her commitment to contemporary music is widely recognised. She was acclaimed 'Performer of the year 2016' by The Norwegian Society of Composers. In the periods 2008–2011 and 2017–2020 she received a state grant for performing artists, one of the most coveted awards in Norway. She has won three Norwegian Grammy’s.


She is a member of the ensembles asamisimasa and Jagerflygel.
Ellen Ugelvik is employed as associate professor and leader of the NordART Centre for Artistic Research at the Norwegian Academy of Music besides her work as a freelance pianist.