Carte Blanche: BIRGET; ways to deal, ways to heal

In recent decades, several Western countries have set up commissions to investigate the history of minority groups subjected to systematic state abuse. 

BIRGET; Ways to deal, ways to heal is a response to the Norwegian Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which in June 2023 will submit proposals to reconcile the Sami and Norwegian people.  

Birget is a Sami expression that describes a state of mastering or surviving in a changing environment. Driven by birget, Sara, Nango, and Carte Blanche invite the audience to overcome the fear of touching a heavy and challenging topic with a frisky performance that questions social and political boundaries, limitations, and today’s climate of reconciliation. 

The performance process started in Guovdageaidnu/Kautokeino where the Carte Blanche dancers experienced the Sami culture, polar night, and the northern cold on their bodies. Through encounters with the Sami people, personal stories of state abuse were shared with the dancers – experiences they carry with them on stage. The scenography’s materials and objects were also collected on the tundra in Finnmark.   

Elle Sofe Sara (f. 1984) is a choreographer and director who lives and works in Guovdageaidnu in Northern Norway. She has made the dance- and yoik performance “Vastadus eana- The answer is land” and several award-winning short films. Elle Sofe’s artistic work often reveals a space where past and present come together, a collage of Sami physicality and spirituality and simple elements. Elle Sofe has an MA in choreography from KhiO. She was festival profile at the Arctic Arts Festival (2020, 2021) and is in the process of making her first feature film which will be the world’s first yoik musical feature film.

Joar Nango (b. 1979) is an architect and artist who lives in Tromsø. His work explores the boundary between art and architecture and often integrates the audience in his installations. He studied architecture at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology between 2002 and 2008 and exchanged at the Bergen School of Architecture and Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weißensee. Nango co-founded the idealistic architectural collective Fellesskapsprosjektet å Fortette Byen (FFB), and was a Festival Artist during the Bergen International Festival 2020.

Find more info about the performance at Carte Blanche's website.

Additional programme

Before the performance at 17:30, there will be a screening of the documentary Birget; a portrait of a process, by Andreas Daugstad Leonardsen, at the Cable Factory’s Konttori café. Film introduction by Carte Blanche’s artistic director Annabelle Bonnéry. Duration 40 min, free admission.

Post-performance discussion at the Cable Factory’s Konttori café, together with Annabelle Bonnéry and company dancers Adrian Barczak and Noam Eidelman Shatil. Free admission.

Čájáhusa namma lea Birget. Dat muitala ahte olmmoš nagoda ja ceavzá rievddalmas dilis. Čájáhusain «BIRGET» de Elle Sofe Sara, Joar Nango ja Carte Blanche bovdejit geahččat hávddodeaddji oktavuođa olbmuid geat jávohuvve ja institušuvnnalaš sivalašvuođa gaskkas.

Maŋemus logijagiin leat olu oarjemáilmmi riikkat ásahan kommišuvnnaid guorahallat unnitlogujoavkkuid historjjá geat leat gillán stáhta systemáhtalaš veahkaválddi. Ovdamearkan namuhit Lulli-Amerihká apartheidstivrema, Kanada internáhttavuogádaga ja mo davviriikkat leat systemáhtalaččat deaddán sámi álbmoga ja inuihtaid.

Sáhttá go traumaid ja persovnnalaš historjjáid juogadeapmi ásahit empáhtalaš oktasašlanja mii dahká ahte fas oažžu áigái luohttevaš oktavuođaid stuorra stáhtain.

Čájáhusas mii čohkket, guldalit ja ráhkadit kollektiivvalaš lihkastaga mas oaidnit eallilan soabahusa, dan sadjái go dušše formáliseret dan. «BIRGET» geahččá leaikkastalli, muhto moaitevaš čalmmiin vuogi movt Stáda lea duhppeniežas kolinisttalaš árbbi.

Elle Sofe Sara (r.1983) lea koreográfa ja rešisevra. Son orru ja bargá Guovdageainnus Finnmárkkus. Son lea ráhkadan dánsačájáhusa luđiin «Vastadus eana- The answer is land» ja maiddái máŋggaid bálkkašuvvon oanehisfilmmaid. Elle Sofe dáiddalaš doaimmas lea dávjá sadji addojuvvon dasa ahte ovddeš ja dáláš deaivvadit, mas oidno fysalaš- ja vuoiŋŋalašvuohta ja čielga gaskaoamit. Sara lea KHIOs váldán koreográfiija MA, ja lea leamaš festiválprofiila Davvi-Norgga riemuin Hársttákas (2020, 2021) ja dál son lea bargamin vuosttaš speallofilmmain mii lea máilmmi vuosttaš juoiganmusikála filbma.

Joar Nango (f.1979) lea arkiteakta ja dáiddár. Son orru Tromssas. Su doaimmas leat lávgalaga dáiddá ja arkitektuvra, ja dávjá váldojit geahččit fárrui su installašuvnnaide. Son lea lohkan arkiteaktan NTNUs áigodagas 2002-2008. Son lea maid leamaš lonohallamis dáppe: BAS ja Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weißensee. Nango lea okta álggaheddjiin idealisttalaš arkiteaktakollektiivva Fellesskapsprosjektet å Fortette Byen (FFB), ja lei Bergena Festspillaid 2020 Festspilladáiddár.