Summer intensive 2024 was held in the very north in Norway, the costal area of Skáidi and Kvalsund. The theme for this years summer intensive was movement and yoik. 20 people participated with 5 teachers and loads of outdoor activities. Here is a summery and reflections from our artistic director Elle Sofe.
2024 is the first time Elle Sofe company arranged a Summer intensive. Elle Sofe company wants to share our artistic practise, get to know new artists and share the traditional Sámi knowledge about this specific place, which is the summer grazing land of our reindeer herding district Gearretnjárga.
The 1st edition of ESC Summer intensive was all about movement and yoiking (juoigat). We explored this in many ways and trough different entrances. We had contemporary dance class with Pernille Holden, urban house with Jens Trinidad, voice and polyphonic exploration with Grete Daling and yoik with Inger Marie Nilut. In addition there was artistic work with Marianne Kjærsund and myself.
We started off with a bonfire outside the school. Making a bonfire to start something new has become a ritual for Elle Sofe company. The fire is a natural gathering place and encourages listening and a flat structure where everyone is equally important. The warmth of the fire and this startup session really set the tone for the rest of the week.
We worked in a very welcoming summer landscape that really showed her best sides to us. We tried to enter the places with humbleness and be there in a collaborative mindset. And for the first time I really felt that dancing belongs to this landscape. Many times I have felt that dance is so silly and unimportant in this big Arctic landscape. But this time something was different.
The last days we decided to work outside and this was the moment it all made more sense. It felt good to be outside. One day we did a house class outside but there were loads of cloud- and blueberries on the ground, so we had to eat them first to clear the ground. After a while a reindeer came to watch us from the mountain just above us.
We also did long improvisations in and with the landscape. This was special beyond words because time really dissolved and it felt amazing to be present with the land there and then. It felt like a healing practice and as a gift.
The participants were from Australia, Sweden and different areas in Norway from both dance, theatre and music backgrounds. Most did not know each other from before. We encouraged an open minded and curious mindset in all the tasks and classes. The sharing, kindness and energy of this group of people was extra ordinary. It felt that everyone had space to explore themselves and at the same time be in it as a group.
This summer intensive started off being about movement and yoik, and ended up also being about this specific landscape, nature and the nature within ourselves.
For me personally this year and especially the autumn has been extremely busy and I have been under a lot of pressure. I have a baby and have also shoot my first feature film. So this summer intensive was healing for me. Being able to dance in and with nature, with openminded and kind group of people, being free and not worrying about producing something was really nice.
I am so proud of my producer Maiken Garder and project leader Marianne Kjærsund who have coordinated and made this happen. I am so happy that all these participants decided to come and all the wonderful moments we share.
I look forward to plan next years summer intensive. Oaidnaleapmai!
-Elle Sofe-