Artist in residence: Melisa Diktas (Humans & Soil)

This project is a work in progress, with the aim to tour a site-specific performance in 2024. Its title stems from the Kurdish notion: ‘No friend but the mountains’, which emphasize Indigenous peoples’ search for sanctuary from war and injustice. It is a site-specific performance with an emphasis on demanding justice for all disregarded lives with a connection to earth such as ; non-human animals, nature and women. We do so by revitalising Indigenous dances, ecological feminism and respect to nature.

In 2022, 6 dancers with indigenous connection to Sápmi, Kurdistan, Peru, Venezuela and Argentina had a research period in Brussels at Garage 29 where they were working on a performative practice called Weaving that is inspired by South Sámi methods on weaving shoebands and a part of Marit Shirin’s movement practice since 2020. We were approaching movement from our various backgrounds and exploring our relation to ecofeminism, kurdish dances and connection to the earth. The project also has a collaboration with Kurdish musician Luna Ersahin, and Sámi Yoik artist and actor Ingá Márjá Sarre. The participants are a part of a pool of dancers that wishes to create a broad project containing exchanges with indigenous peoples globally.

Dancers: Paz Moreno, Laleshka Salas, Melisa Diktas, Ebba Ulfhjelm Boström, Saskia Leudo de Ronde, Marit Shirin Carolasdotter, Zorybel Garcia.

Supported by: Dansinitiativet in Luleå, SITE Stockholm, Garage 29 Brussels, Movers Signum - Dansens Hus Stockholm. Collaborating artists: Iroquois-Mohawk performer Anthony Rice-Perttunen, Céline Cassarino