Vaajesh Gaaltije/Mytenes Kilde (The source of the myth), Script & Direction Ada Einmo J, Photo Credit: Ketil Born
CONCEPT DIRECTING AND CHOREOGRAPHY
SWANLAKE
Extracts from «Swanlake» by Tchaikovsky, performed by 2 excavators, 2 mini excavators, and 2 lifts at the opening ceremony of Festspillene Helgeland 2022
Choreographed by Ada Einmo J, music played live by Helgeland Sinfonietta and conducted by Nicholas Carthy
ANGRY OLD SÁMI LADIES
“I hate old people!” – Angry Old Sámi Ladies
Sinte gamle samedamer (Angry Old Sámi Ladies) is a dance performance and a hard-hitting artistic fist aimed at stigmatizing indigenous women and women of age. Musically, seductively, furiously and sensually, the artists challenge the myths and norms related to women over a certain age, as well as women of Sápmi origin and affiliation, with goal to give women from all over Sápmi a voice; from the loud roar of the depths to the quiet voice of the plateau.
EARTH VOICES
A pre-production research project for developing a global artistic concept, choreographic method, and a manifesto to visualize the mindset and quality of the indigenous languages through the language of dance & movement from different parts of the world, such as Australia, Greenland, Japan, India & Norway.
SINSITNINE
Visualizing Vefsn as a historic and present South Sámi municipality and the value for us all to live in a multicultural society. Conveying performance arts and dance in the mindset of the yoik, the Sámi nomadic way of thinking and the premises of the South Sámi language.
EATNEMEN VUELIE
Songs from the earth
The Norwegian Church banned the traditional Sámi sacred singing Yoik, as the sound of the devil. It was forbidden by the Norwegian state, to use it in schools and other public areas. This was a part of the ‘norwegianizing’ of the Sámi people, and the language was also forbidden to use in public. This was especially hard from the 1850s up to the 1960s/70s. We see Psalms and Yoik as two sides of the coin, sacred and deepfelt expressions for emotions, events in life, and belief.
ROOTS
We all have roots in one or more cultures, societies, religions, families, and more. Roots keep us connected. They are strong and can grow far. They can also keep us too tight, stuck and hinder our freedom to develop ourselves.
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THROUGH THE EYES OF A SEAGULL
A multiple artistic concept to turn and discuss perspectives, analyzing “Who’s the other?”, “Who’s telling the stories?”, “Where do I come from?” Using one of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted birds in the world as our metaphor and guide; The Gull/Seagull
GÏEJE
Footprints
A performance built on the dramaturgy of the traditional Sámi chant, the Yoik. We meet 5 women who know how to survive and to make use of everything and everybody that comes their way. They do Yoiks in traditional ways and make
up new ones. They live by the nomadic tradition: “never own more than you can carry with you.” And with them is a very useful handyman whom they organize. Everything happens, and there is no defined beginning and no defined ending, as in the Yoik.
GON
And
A performance built on the dramaturgy of the Sámi handicraft and ornaments, old Sámi Yoiks from wax-roll recordings and traditional living yoiks. How our culture identifies us, but also can become a prison for your individual development, your private urge to self-definition and self-determination. We all learn and borrow from other cultures and take new expressions and after some time they melt together with us and are us.
KLEMETSPELET
The Environmental Theatre in Hemnes is located near the Okstindan mountain range in northern Norway. The mountain range and its glacier are a central natural form visible both from the sea and the inland.
ELSA LAULA –
DIHTE STAALEKE NYJESENE
Elsa Laula – The Sámi Jeanne d’Arc
Elsa Laula Renberg was the driving force behind arranging the first pan-Sámi organization meeting in Trondheim on February 6th, 1917. Since 1992, the 6th of February has been designated as Sámi National Day in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. She fought for the right to the Sámi language, the land for reindeer herding, and the human rights of the indigenous Sámi people.
WHERE THE STARS LIVE
DER STJERNAN BOR
A theater project by the Røyrvik Municipality.
The local Sámi culture association (Luvlie Nåamesjen Dajve) and the local Norwegian history association (Røyrvik Historielag). They collected and shared stories from both the Sami and the Norwegian points of view,
Life and reality in the municipality.
JASAT
A Yoik and Dance Performance
With some of the best traditional Yoikers in Sápmi, performing their chosen favorite yoiks incorporation with musical director Johan Sara Jr.
THE HOMELESS
Choreography & Directing for Elisabeth Heilman Blind
The woman Meqqu, a shaman from a small community in western Greenland, is assigned to the journey of her life out in the wide world. Her task is to bring back the lost soul of a young man. The journey goes astray and suddenly it is 1978 and she finds herself in a Danish prison cell. In the same cell, a young man awakens.