Dancing out the wordless

Láhppon/Lost is an extremely physical story, an echo of the Kautokeino Uprising told through ballet.

The Kautokeino Uprising was a religious-political uprising that took place in 1852. It was the turning point after several years of conflict between the Sami and the authorities – and is a story related to today’s struggles around the world.

The National Ballet uses dance to tell the complexities of the uprising: about the conviction of right and wrong, the fight for survival and the repeated trampling – but also about the silence, the pulse, the fear and the resignation.

A dark historical chapter

In the preparation for the performance, choreographer Elle Sofe Sara discovered that six of her relatives participated in the uprising. This made her look at what is described as the most violent event in Sami history with new eyes.

Together with Hlín Hjálmarsdóttir, she examines the rebellion from today's worldview - at a time when we are once again witnessing hard fronts that are sharpening, lives are being lost and leaders who abuse their power.

Created for the NORWEGIAN Opera's main stage

Elle Sofe Sara is described as one of the most important and interesting choreographers of her generation in Norway. Now that she has joined forces with the Icelandic choreographer Hlín Hjálmarsdóttir, they are creating their first work for the National Ballet together.

On stage, the dancers are joined by the yoiker Lávre Johan Eira. The costumes are designed by Danish Henrik Vibskov - the fashion designer behind Ekman's A Swan Lake in water. Vibskov is also behind the scenography in the performance: a futuristic scenic landscape in playful interaction with nature and tradition.

Both costumes and scenography are inspired by traditions within the Sami way of life, building customs and techniques - inspiration Vibskov picked up on a study trip to Guovdageaidnu, Kautokeino.

Icelandic Valgeir Sigurðsson has created a new musical work that unites traditional and newly written joiks by Lávre Johan Eira and Sara Marielle Gaup Beaska. The work is characterized by Sigurðsson's unique blend of atmospheric electronic music and classical instruments, and is further enriched by the forces of the chamber choir Vokal Nord.

Elle Sofe's method

Elle Sofe Sara's method for developing new artistic works includes interviewing people who have experienced the theme of the body, and who still live in it.

This time, she interviews descendants of both the rebels and those who stopped the rebellion. They also interview academics, priests and psychologists who can shed light on human mechanisms in such situations.

These oral interviews are an important addition to the existing written sources – especially in order to be able to listen to how the echo of the rebellion has changed from generation to generation in the affected families.

Láhppon/Lost is produced in collaboration with Sámi Našunálateáhter Beaivváš - The Sámi National Theater Beaivváš.