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What happens when traditional Norwegian dance meets break dance? Cultural collision.
And that`s the theme for the Frikar performance at Dansens Hus this week.
Hallgrim Hansegård, you have choreographed this performance, but first I`d like to ask you: "What does Bivrfrost mean?"
"Bivrfrost" is the ancient nordic name for the bridge between the gods and mankind in the norse mythology.
And Snorre Sturlasson writes that
So we have chosen to interpretate
Why did you choose so, that`s the essence of this performance?
To build bridges
Yes, that is true. It is a very playful production, but with an important theme; to build bridges with cultures, instead of exluding.
We start the performance with video arts where extreme right meanings meet Snorre and nazi propaganda with folk dance.
All this meet interviews with today young dancers speaking about how they handle the body invation in dance.
What are we watching right here?
Here can we see a monk, a crossover, which has learnt by both sides in a conflict.
He tries to teach them to trust and support each other.
You can see there are hugh
In the end the end they find out how to trust each other and to build bridges with each other, with their bodies.
And you have earlier collaborated with Kung Fu monks, contemporary dancers and capoeiristas. How was it to work with break dancers?
It was so much fun to work with bboys! Both halling and break dance are sub cultures often presented as stereotypes.
What is important for us is to show that these genres may carry on pluralistic ideas.
And you question how we meet xenophobia and racism in Norway. What do you think about it?
I think it is important especially for us dancers of these genres not to be interpreted through these stereotypes, neither meet them.
We should be able to express ourselves free through dance.
Specially after July 22nd and Behring Breiviks flirt with the temple knights and the nazis use of folk dance and sun cross...
Old culture with different ideas, it becomes difficult for us Norwegians to use our heritage at all.
I think it is important to show that for example traditional dance may mean so many things, you may express a wide range of meanings.
Instead of being scared of possibly being understood as nationalists.
So you would actually practise your own culture without shame? Yes, exactly.
And after July 22nd it was talked more about solidarity and a new Norwegian "We". What do you think about the development?
After July 22nd it was talked more about a new Norwegian "We". How do you think it evolves?
I think it is crucial to allways talk about it. And to use culture, Norwegian or not, to build bridges instead of excluding.