Mantas Ūsas
Mantas Ūsas (Černeckas) completed his bachelor’s course in dance at the Department of Choreography of the Klaipėda University in 2011 and later obtained master’s diploma in contemporary dance from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in 2015. He also spent one year as an Erasmus trainee at the Stockholm University College of Dance (2008‒9).
He embarked on a career of a professional dancer in 2009. Since then he has collaborated with many Lithuanian and foreign choreographers, including Agnija Šeiko, Aurelijus Liškauskas, Vytis Jankauskas, Aira Naginevičiūtė, Tony Vezich, Aušra Krasauskaitė, Marija Simona Šimulynaitė, Lorca Massine, Alban Richard, Martynas Rimeikis, Palle Granhøj, Dalija Acin Thelander, and Vilma Pitrinaitė. Among his recent engagements are appearances in the productions of the Klaipėda State Music Theatre, Šeiko Dance Company, Airos Dance Theatre, Vytis Jankauskas Dance Company and the Baltic Ballet Theatre. He was member of the Klaipėda State Music Theatre from 2015 to 2019. He currently teaches dance at the Klaipėda Faculty of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre.
In 2017 he also debuted as a choreographer in three productions mounted at the Klaipėda State Music Theatre: Spanish Zarzuela, Carmen (assistant to Aušra Krasauskaitė) and Giselle (with Donatas Bakėjus).
He has appeared on international tours at the ŻiguŻajg Arts Festival for Children and Young People (Malta, 2019), Beijing Fringe Festival (2016), Miskolc EYE Festival (2014), East Gate Europe in Aarhus (2013), Unidram in Potsdam (2012), Small Inventory in Prague (2012) and Keðja in Tallinn (2012).
