North of the Wall

CAPACOA (Canadian Association for the Performing Arts) and Festspillene i Nord-Norge have formed a cohort, a one year project involving six Canadian and six Norwegian artists and producers. During several online meetings and two in person ones, over a one year period, the cohort will exchange experiences and points of view. The aim is to make long lasting relations by getting up close and personal around the most urgent topics the participants are grappling with in their professional lives. 

This panel is focused on the experience of the Canadian participants, so far, what they identify having in common and not with their Norwegian counterparts. The panel is moderated by Judy Harquail, International Market Development Consultant & Strategist (CAPACOA).

Contributors: 

• Heater Redfern
• Judy Haquail
• Margaret Grenier
• Patrick Blenkarn
• Sean Guist
• Laurence Lemieux
• Pam Patel

To The heart of it

Work in progress: The Erik Show by Silje Solheim. 

Choreographer and performer Silje Solheim shows excerpts from her project The Erik Show. 

Silje Solheim Johnsen is a Norwegian choreographer and performer based in Tromsø, NO. Some of her earlier works includes Bobleplastbarna (2019), To Duetter (2020), ERIK (2021), Building a tent (2022). Silje has a broad experience working with performers of all ages and abilities. She facilitates space for the performers to engage in the present moment, forgetting about expectations, which allows for the audience to witness the magic of the mundane in the performers. Creating choreography of situations that both the performers and audience can share in its exploration. She holds a BA (Hons) in Dance Theatre from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of music and dance, London and an MA in Dance Science from NTNU, Trondheim, NO, and her work has toured extensively in schools and festivals, both nationally and internationally.

Common things made holy

Pitch session with Davvi – Center for Performing Arts

Together with Davvi we present three artists working in the field of performing arts in Northern Norway/Sápmi. Through their introductions and peak into their process, these artists will provide valuable insights to upcoming projects and tendencies in the performing arts scene in the north.  

• Maria Landmark
• Rebekka Brox Liabø
• Sara Bruteig Olsen

The sacrifice

Panel discussion: The Art of Trauma  

During this year’s festival and beyond, we see many artists dealing with the topic of trauma in their work. How do we adapt the stories dealing with lived trauma to the stage? How can fictional stories of trauma help us understand our real one? Led by Karoline Una Moen, this panel explores how artists use trauma as dramaturgical device and come out stronger for it.

Contributors:

• Dagfinn Th. I. Holte
• Karoline Una Moen
• Nina Wester

Bless bless 

Before we say goodbye, this time around, we debrief together over lunch about this year's NORDAFØRR.