ABOUT

Annika Johansson (they/them, she/her) is a genderqueer dancer, choreographer, and collaborator based in Minneapolis, Mni Sota Makoce, on Dakota and Anishinaabe land.

Annika’s work draws from their studies in improvisation, contemporary dance forms, and site-specific techniques. Their aesthetic is rooted in a deep curiosity for detailed movements and energetic shifts. Their movement embodies a balance between control and abandon, sweeping gestures and minute grooves. Annika is passionate about crafting personal narratives through choreography and collaborative projects, with a focus on creating space for reflection.

Annika studied dance at Perpich Arts High School under the guidance of Mary Harding before attending the University of Minnesota, where they graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in Dance. During their time at the University, they performed works by renowned artists such as Justin Jones, The Martha Graham Dance Company, Marcus Jarrell Willis, luciana achugar, Brian Brooks, and Joanie Smith. Annika also spent a year at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance in Palestine, where they further expanded their artistic perspective. Their practice is influenced by a rich lineage of passionate and insightful instructors, and they continue to explore the intersections of different approaches to dance.

A passionate collaborator and process-driven artist, Annika brings a deep curiosity to projects of all kinds. As a performer, they have sought opportunities to work with many local artists, gaining rich creative experiences. Annika has performed in works by Jeffrey Peterson Dance, Maggie Bergeron and Company, Sophia Pimsler, Alternative Motion Project, Emma Marlar, Flying Foot Forum, HoneyWorks, Hatch Dance, ARENA DANCES, Becca Cerra, Taja Will & Mathew Janczewski, and Jagged Moves.

As an instructor, Annika has taught in a wide range of studio, recreational, and public settings, dedicated to nurturing students' creativity and self-awareness. They have worked with individuals of all ages and abilities - children, professional dancers, and adult beginners, bringing a deep passion for artistic expression, empowered choice-making, and personal discovery to each class. Annika fosters an inclusive environment where students are encouraged to explore their potential and develop a deeper connection to their craft.

They create dance for theaters and public spaces, aiming to shift our perspective of ordinary spaces and create dreamlike worlds out of a blank stage. Together with their collaborator and wife, Abigail Johansson, Annika has created dance for Glam Doll Donuts (You're Invited, 2016), the University of Minnesota Rec Center pool (Run Rinse Repeat, 2017), the Casket Arts Building (Casket Dances, 2018), and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden (SCULPTOUR, 2018-2021). They also collaborated on works for Red Eye Theater’s 2019 Works in Progress and ARENA DANCES’ CANDY BOX Dance Festival in 2021.

In 2024, through a Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Individuals grant, Annika created and produced the show, LILACS, for the Red Eye Theater. LILACS consisted of a series of short dance works that uniquely explored themes of gender, presentation, grief, and selfhood.

In reflecting on their journey as both an artist and a body, Annika offers gratitude to the trans and queer elders and friends who have guided them, helped them ask profound questions, and supported them in discovering their truest self.

photo by Isabel Fajardo