Choreographer Elle Sofe Sara explores Sámi identity and our kinship with nature in Vástádus eana – The Answer Is Land

A notable and accomplished figure in the realm of contemporary dance, Elle Sofe Sara is known particularly for the way her work intersects deeply the Sámi cultural identity. 

The choreographer, director, and filmmaker hailing from Guovdageaidnu, Norway holds an MA in choreography from the Oslo Academy of Arts and Dance Studies at the Laban Trinity School in London, UK. And as a co-founder of DÁIDDADÁLLU, a Sámi contemporary art collective, she develops innovative work characterized by a profound engagement with the themes of cultural identity, community, and the relationship between people and the natural world.

Sara’s acclaimed and award winning dance and yoik (Sámi traditional song) performance, Vástádus eana – The Answer Is Land is making its Toronto premiere at the Harbourfront Centre’s Fleck Dance Theatre as part of the international contemporary dance series, Torque. This full-length piece was co-choreographed by Alexandra Wingate, with dramaturgy by Thomas Schaupp, costumes by Line Maher, set by Elin Melberg, and lighting by Øystein Heitmann. 

Vástádus eana – The Answer Is Land explores interpersonal relationships and personal connection to the natural world, while giving voice to the resilience and richness of Sámi culture and offering a powerful exploration and reclamation of Sámi identity, community, and kinship with nature. Through a mix of theatrical concert, ritualized movement and polyphonic yoiks, the performance addresses the near-total oppression of the Sámi people, particularly through the local residential school system’s suppression of their language and cultural heritage.

Sara’s personal and historical inspirations for Vástádus eana – The Answer Is Land stem from a desire to foster togetherness and deepen connections with the land and each other. “I always work from my personal experiences and thoughts in my artwork,” Sara states. Her starting point is the fundamental importance of communal singing and dancing: “At some point, we have all loved to sing and dance together: as children, as youth, or even singing together in religious practices. So the base is that. And then we dived into the theme of nature even deeper, and found that the climate crisis also has to be addressed in some way.” The piece, while deeply rooted in Sámi traditions, is thus “not a ‘correct’ Sámi historical performance or documentation”, but rather an artistic endeavor that reflects the artistic choices of Sara and her collaborators: “an artwork with the freedom that gives”. 

One unique aspect of Sara’s work is her incongruous-seeming exploration of Sámi physicality and rituals. “It’s a known fact that the Sámi people don’t have dance traditions,” she acknowledges. But “since I finished my dance studies in London,” she continues, “I have been researching if there is something you can call ‘Sámi dance’, and have found certain ways of moving in occasions like weddings and religious settings, plus many specific Sámi words for moving.” Through her research and creative process, Sara has sought to uncover and incorporate such aspects of Sámi movement into her performances and short films, thereby making visible these elements of a “Sámi physicality”. 

She notes that “there are also many small Sámi rituals that one does alone: for instance, to ask for permission when you come to new places.” Of these, she notes that she has “also been trying to physicalize” them. “In this way, the rituals can be made visible and continue to be practiced and relevant.” The approach not only honors Sámi heritage but expands the audience’s understanding of what dance can encompass.

For audiences unfamiliar with Sámi culture, Sara hopes that Vástádus eana can transcend cultural and linguistic barriers – allowing them to connect with the performers and feel part of something meaningful. “I think art speaks beyond borders. And in dance and yoik, we express through presence, colouring, directions, looks, speed, intensity, etc.” Extending beyond the performance itself, the work is “positioned to contribute to broader conversations on Indigenous rights, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship – particularly by drawing parallels between the struggles of the Sámi people and those of Indigenous communities in Canada”. 

Presented as a theatrical concert, the choreography of Vástádus eana – The Answer Is Land is inspired by demonstrations, Sami spiritual practices, and group dance. It begins outside in Ontario Square, where the performers guide the audience through a protest. The cast and audience then transition together inside to the Fleck Dance Theatre for the remainder of the performance. On stage, the show features seven female performers (Sara Marielle Gaup, Emma Elliane Oskal Valkeapää, Grete Daling, Olga-Lise Holmen, Nora Svenning, Vilja Kwasny and Julie Moviken). They wear traditional headgear and blend ritual movements with polyphonic yoiks written especially for the show by composer and yoik instructor Frode Fjellheim, who is the composer of “Eatnemen Vuelie”, the 2002 song that was adapted to become the opening musical number of Disney’s Frozen. 

By inviting audiences into this immersive journey of feeling and experience, Sara hopes that her art can play an important role in raising awareness and inspiring action towards changing the colonial legacy that affects Indigenous peoples worldwide. “There are  many similarities between the Indigenous in Canada and us Sámi people when it comes to our wish to live with our traditional lands, to be able to speak our language, and to choose the way we wish to live. Maybe the realization that similar issues are also present in other countries can also open people’s eyes to realize that Indigenous rights are not just a ‘small problem’ in your own country, but a pervasive colonial legacy that, unfortunately, can only be broken by being super-aware and taking action to change systems.”

By way of a final thought, Sara emphasizes the importance of feedback, highlighting her openness, even eagerness to hear how audiences receive and interpret her work: “I think it’s so important that when we are able to share, that we also are able to hear what people experienced and took away from it.” In keeping with this idea, a Q&A will follow the March 7 performance, hosted by Nicole Inica Hamilton. This interactive aspect of her artistic practice not only reflects her dedication to community engagement but also her belief in the power of art to connect, inspire and provoke. Through Vástádus eana – The Answer Is Land, Sara invites us to reimagine our relationship with the land and each other, offering a path towards dignity, healing, and a renewed sense of kinship with the natural world.

Vástádus eana – The Answer Is Land runs March 6 and 7, 2024 at Harbourfront Centre’s Fleck Dance Theare. Please visit HarbourfrontCentre.com to reserve tickets.

© Arpita Ghosal, SesayArts Magazine, 2024