"Gympa" [ˈjʏ̀mːpa] is a Swedish form of group aerobic training.
MEDELGYMPA is your all-around fitness and art experience. We exercise to very traditional gympa music, and it can get sweaty if you want it to. Bring your metaphorical machete out. Touch down to the sound of creaking wood. Allow your body to turn into a marshmallow in a cup of hot cocoa. MEDELGYMPA is the kind of gympa that encourages laziness. It's gympa deluxe.
MEDELGYMPA is both a performing arts event and a session of gympa. With a warm hand, the audience is led through the performance by a gympa trainer and via instructions in headphones. Everyone participates on their own terms, and you choose for yourself whether it will be heart-pounding or laid-back. MEDELGYMPA can play outdoors in parks, or indoors in, for example, gymnasiums or black boxes. You need to come in clothes you are comfortable working out in, we take care of everything else.
MEDELGYMPA is the result of an exploration of gympa as a bodily practice and social phenomenon. We are particularly interested in the kind of community that can take shape during a session of gympa. The collective rush. The gratitude. All the different bodies, ages, and tempos, sweating together to the sound of thumping bass and energizing instructions. MEDELGYMPA is our tribute to gympa, because we love it.
Shows 2025:
TBA
PHOTOGRAPHER: Chrisander Brun
PERFORMANCE LENGTH: approx. 60 min
TARGET GROUP: from 13 years
LANGUAGE: Swedish, English
Concept, script and choreography ANNA HAGLUND, ANNICA STYRKE, ELLEN SÖDERHULT & KARIN WIKLUND
Performer ELLEN SÖDERHULT
Sound design ANNA HAGLUND
Set design TOVE DREIMAN
Light design MAJA LINDSTRÖM
With the support of SWEDISH ARTS COUNCIL, STOCKHOLM REGION, NORRLANDSOPERAN, SKELLEFTEÅ MUNICIPALITY, DANSCENTRUM STOCKHOLM, SALA MUNICIPALITY, GULA VILLAN I JÄRNA, HUDDINGE MUNICIPALITY
