BIRGET;

A dance performance about state abuse and reconciliation.

BIRGET; Ways to deal, ways to heal is a collaborative work between choreographer Elle Sofe Sara and visual artist Joar Nango by contemporary dance company Carte Blanche.

The title is based on the Sámi expression birget, which means coping and surviving in a changing environment. In BIRGET; Ways to deal, ways to heal, Elle Sofe Sara, Joar Nango, and Carte Blanche invite the audience to a healing bridge between silenced generations and institutional guilt.

In recent decades, several Western states have set up commissions to investigate the history of minority groups exposed to systematic state abuse. Examples of this include the apartheid regime in South Africa, the boarding school system in Canada, and the systematic oppression of the Sámi people and the Inuit in the Nordic States.

The question remains: How can sharing traumas and personal stories help create the empathetic space needed to rebuild friendly relationships with the faceless entity of the State?

Through the performance, we will gather, listen and build a collective movement that makes lived reconciliation visible, rather than merely formalizing it. The performance takes a playful yet critical gaze at the State's way of dealing with its colonial heritage.

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Dánsačájáhus – Elle Sofe Sara & Joar Nango 

Carte Blanche, Norgga našunála lávdi dálááiggedánsii, rahpá 2023 giđđaáigodaga Oslos, Norsk Opera & Ballet lávddis čájáhusain «BIRGET». Dán leaba ovttasráhkadan koreográfa Elle Sofe Sara ja dáiddár Joar Nango. 

Čájáhusa namma lea Birget. Dat muitala ahte olmmoš nagoda ja ceavzá rievddalmas dilis. Čájáhusain «BIRGET» de Elle Sofe Sara, Joar Nango ja Carte Blanche bovdejit geahččat hávddodeaddji oktavuođa olbmuid geat jávohuvve ja institušuvnnalaš sivalašvuođa gaskkas.    

Maŋemus logijagiin leat olu oarjemáilmmi riikkat ásahan kommišuvnnaid guorahallat unnitlogujoavkkuid historjjá geat leat gillán stáhta systemáhtalaš veahkaválddi. Ovdamearkan namuhit Lulli-Amerihká apartheidstivrema, Kanada internáhttavuogádaga ja mo davviriikkat leat systemáhtalaččat deaddán sámi álbmoga ja inuihtaid.  

Sáhttá go traumaid ja persovnnalaš historjjáid juogadeapmi ásahit empáhtalaš oktasašlanja mii dahká ahte fas oažžu áigái luohttevaš oktavuođaid stuorra stáhtain. 

Čájáhusas mii čohkket, guldalit ja ráhkadit kollektiivvalaš lihkastaga mas oaidnit eallilan soabahusa, dan sadjái go dušše formáliseret dan. «BIRGET» geahččá leaikkastalli, muhto moaitevaš čalmmiin vuogi movt Stáda lea duhppen iežas kolinisttalaš árbbi. 

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Photo: Helge Hansen