Emma´s first months as Trainee
Vuosttaš mánut oahpahallin
” I quickly got a glimpse of how much effort goes into running a small company with big ambitions and international collaborations”
-Emma Elliane
Elle Sofe Company has fascinated me as a growing Sámi film and dance company ever since its establishment in 2022. With Elle Sofe Sara as Artistic Director, Maiken Garder as Managing Director and Producer, and Ingvild handling production and tour management, it’s an inspiring team with strong visions. When I was offered the opportunity to join Elle Sofe Company as a trainee, I was thrilled and excited. It felt like a unique chance to develop as a performer in Elle Sofe’s productions but also as a cultural worker, a field that was relatively new to me!
Elle Sofe’s ability to tell stories through performing arts deeply inspires and moves me. Her work is rooted in the Sámi language and culture, which I also want to work with and share both within Sápmi and to an international audience. As a performer in Vástadus Eana – The Answer is Land I had the opportunity to go on a three-week tour to Turtle Island/Canada. Performing in Indigenous territories and for Indigenous people in the audiences was a truly special and meaningful experience which I really wanted to do more! As a performer, I hadn’t seen all the work behind organizing such a long international tour with such a big production, but I quickly began to understand this on my first day in the new role!
On my first day as a trainee, I was excited to see what awaited me. I had prepared my home office the day before and was excited to log in for my first meeting with Maiken at 10 a.m. On that very first day, I was put on copy to many emails Maiken sent, and I quickly got a glimpse of how much effort goes into running a small company with big ambitions and international collaborations!
Over time, I’ve taken on more responsibilities myself, from managing social media communication to planning and executing a BIRRA activity in Italy together with Vilja Kwasny. I’ve also worked on the company’s website, translated texts into Northern Sámi, and followed the entire process of turning an idea for a Sámi language course into reality, from grant applications to planning, implementation, and reporting at the end.
After several weeks of administrative work, it was refreshing to return to work on stage as an artist in Elle Sofe’s new project Savvon – I Heal. I joined a couple of days of the pre-project alongside Jens Trinidad, Biret Haarla Pieski, Laura Feodoroff, Synne Maria Lundesgaard, Lávre Johan Eira, Marianne Kjærsund, and Elle Sofe herself. It was my first time working with Elle Sofe at the beginning of a new production, and it was very inspiring to see how she develops an artistic idea into a stage production.
Being part of Elle Sofe Company fills me with pride and gratitude. I feel honored to learn from such skilled, hardworking, kind, and grounded colleagues. I look forward to the year ahead, challenging myself with both creative and administrative tasks, and gaining deeper insight into what it takes to run a small but far-reaching international dance and film company in Sápmi!
Váimmolaš dearvvuođat
Oskal Máhte Ántte Sara Makreda Emmas
Greetings from
Emma Elliane Oskal Valkeapää
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