Jana Jacuka
Jana Jacuka (1995, LV/NL) is a choreographer and performer. She moves at the intersection of dance, performance and theatre, developing work in which body, voice and text function as equal materials.
Choreographer and performer Jana has been working with DansBrabant since 2025. After an initial introduction to her performance HA, Jana did a residency around her latest work AAA.
Jana Jacuka (1995, LV/NL) moves at the intersection of dance, performance and theatre, developing work in which body, voice and text function as equal materials.
In her practice, Jana often starts from the minimal: using the body as a starting point, she creates performances that emerge from seemingly simple actions and everyday experiences. This approach opens up a physical and sensory layer where meaning is not so much explained as experienced.
A key area of research in her work is the voice as a choreographic instrument. Through extreme vocal techniques - such as grunts, yodelling, fry screams and speaking on the inhale - she explores how voice relates to the body and how it can function as an extension of it.
Jana studied at the Latvian Academy of Culture and completed the master's degree in DAS Theatre in Amsterdam in 2025. Her work has been presented internationally at festivals and stages in Europe and received several awards, including the award for ‘Performance of the Year’ at the Latvian Dance Awards and the International Bursary Award 2025 from Amsterdam Fringe Festival.
