In the North, several choreographers have undertaken the task of highlighting previously silenced dance traditions in Kven and Sami culture and developed them in their own expression.

In recent years, Sami Elle Sofe Sara has garnered awards for productions like Vástádus Eana – The Answer is Land and Birget – ways to heal, ways to deal; and Astrid Serine Hoel has highlighted Kven dance tradition in the festival favorite Karhutanssi. Both choreographers have had to dig deep to uncover the respective Sami and Kven dance traditions.

The Critics' Association and the Arts Festival of Northern Norway invite critics and choreographers to discuss the new northern contemporary dance at Sentralen at 19:30, Monday, June 24. The award for this year's best critique will be presented after the discussion.

This year, the Norwegian Critics Association, the Arts Festival of Northern Norway, and the Norwegian Theatre and Orchestra Association (NTO) are collaborating on the Critique of the Year, a recognition of the best critical text or radio manuscript about performing arts expressions.