Choreographer Elle Sofe Sara was born into the Sámi culture, which is indigenous to what is now known as northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, and parts of Russia. She discovered dance at age 16 and moved to London to study, later pursuing a graduate degree in choreography from the Oslo Academy and then moving back to her home territory to make work. The dance seen here was inspired by a poem that speaks to the Sámi people’s strength and resilience throughout a long history of forced assimilation and colonialism. This performance combines dance with yoik, a traditional singing style of the Sámi people. Composed specifically for the performance, this yoik reflects on the power of standing together and the awareness of the earth we all stand on and share. This appearance marked the company’s U.S. debut.
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