VÁSTÁDUS EANA / The Answer Is Land

In the performance VÁSTÁDUS EANA / THE ANSWER IS LAND, Elle Sofe Sara opens a shared space where past and present merge. Political demonstrations, Sami rituals and formation dance have inspired this powerful work that takes us on a journey both into the Sami culture and into ourselves.

Elle Sofe Sara’s performance invites us into the kinship between people and the living land. She has a special ability to convey the deep intention behind movement, gaze, timing, direction, intensity and stage presence. She is inspired by the power of the collective – the power that arises when we act together.

The joik, the Sami folk music, is the main element and acts as a driving force throughout the work, creating a powerful and beautiful experience that lingers long after the final note have faded. The polyphonic joik is composed by Frode Fjellheim and carries the dancers throughout the work.

The work is created with and for the seven female performers, all of whom are experienced dancers and joikists. The artists come from different backgrounds and all bring their own stories and voices to the work.

The joik in the performance is written especially for this work. The composer Frode Fjellheim, a professor of joik, also wrote the intro music for the Disney movie “Frozen”. Fjellheim demonstrates the breadth of joik and expands the definition of what traditional Sami folk music can sound like.

VÁSTÁDUS EANA / THE ANSWER IS LAND was performed to an enthusiastic audience in Bora Bora during The Gender House Festival in 2024, and to bring the show to an even larger audience, we present it again.

Unfortunately, we cannot offer wheelchair accessibility for this performance.

Elle Sofe Company was established in 2022 as a continuation of the work of choreographer, director and film-maker Elle Sofe Sara who has been a full time artist since 2007.

While the company’s base is Sámi culture the artistic work touches upon human aspects and global themes such as belonging, togetherness, nature and ancestral knowledge. The company aims to create unique experiences of dance, yoik (Sámi traditional song) and music that make an imprint and give new perspectives for the audience. We truly believe that art can change the world for the better by touching people in unexpected ways on a deep personal level, that again can change societal structures.

In 2021 Sara premiered the performance “Vástádus eana – The answer is land” which has toured extensively worldwide since and received the Critics award for dance in Norway in 2022 with numerous excellent critics. In 2023 she choreographed BIRGET; ways to deal, ways to heal for Carte Blanche dance company. This performance also received the critics award and is currently touring. Currently Sara is developing her first feature film ÁRRU, which is a yoik musical about abuse.

Elle Sofe Company wishes to expand and develop further, we wish to reach people beyond borders and encounter meetings with a diversity of people, cultures and lifestyles. We strive to be innovative, kindhearted and unifying.

ESC received funding from 2023- 2026 from the Norwegian Arts Council which allowed us to professionalize the structure and employ producer Maiken Garder. The company has two full time employees while the rest are hired for projects and tours. The administration is based in Guovdageaidnu and Hammerfest in Northern Norway, while the touring team is based all around Norway and Northern Finland. We rehearse in spaces available and in collaboration with institutions and local organizations.

Website: ellesofe.com