Sami reclamation on 1,000 liters of soil
Live music, spoken word and eclectic dance reminds us of the body’s quest to be free.
The choreographer Marit Shirin Carolasdotter’s artistic work is characterised by her bond with the past and present of indigenous peoples. With Sami roots from Jämtland and a Kurdish Iraqi background, she addresses the Sami oppression and the despotism that most affects indigenous peoples.
Her first full-length work, of itself : in itself, is a personally charged performance featuring dance, music and a type of poetry slam. The contributions of spoken word artist Juvvá Pittja bolster the political weight of the show. Whilst his words highlight the Sami struggle, the dancers’ energy-intensive and ultimately exhausting choreography represent the pursuit of the right to their own bodies.
A compelling piece unfolds as the dancer’s feet, on a stage submerged beneath 1,000 litres of soil, explore physical memories passed down from previous generations, mapping out the ancestral knowledge rooted within us, an echo of the oppression our forebears endured.