MINNISBROT
MINNISBROT (MEMORY FRAGMENTS) is a double bill dance performance presented by RIVA the Faroese Dance Company. A performance that entwines dance and poetry. The two duets being presented are: ‘tveyeini’ (two-alone) by Rannvá G. Niclasen and Vár B. Árting, and ‘Minni: neglir klóra rygg’ (Memory: nails scratching back) by Beinir Bergsson and Búi Rouch.
Memories, whether preserved or suppressed, stay in our bodies and leave behind marks. As we physically change our memories change with us. Memories can be the remnants of a time gone by, a place, a person or an occurrence. Reminiscing about good times; trying to make sense of blurry occurrences gone by in an intoxicated state; wanting to latch onto the memory or trying to run away from it. The common thread is the connection between two bodies and the emotional interplay between the two. The works deal with themes of yearning, longing and the intimacy between two bodies on stage. The double bill is a journey through a series of memory fragments, both personal and as told by others, in an effort to embody and depict them through movement.
“two-alone // tveyeini”
Two bodies entwined in movement on a journey through fragments of memories. Through a juxtaposition of pedestrian body language, abstract, and performative movements, the sense of reality is distorted and a new universe is shaped, reflecting the emotional spectrum connected to the themes. The frame for the soundscape is Klingra’s new album “...eftir” which is based on personal recollections of the Faroese Harbor in Greenland (Nordáfar) and life at sea.
“Memory: nails scratching back // Minni: neglir klóra rygg”
The work puts forth a landscape of memories; a collision of poems and movements about queer yearning. Six memories about intimacy, bodycontact and sexual assault are depicted through the flux of words and movements. Seeking a way to recollect these memories through bodily material and utterances.
LISTEN TO CONNECTED PODCAST
- RELATIONSHIP WITH WATER - 71 percent of the Earth surface is water. Up to 60% of the human adult body is water. Water is omnipresent. In this episode we ask artists and festival creators about their relationship with water. Starring: Robert Karlsson (Between Music/AquaSonic), Betina Birkjær (Luna Park/SightSEAing), Var Bech Arting (RIVA/Minnisbrot), Willie White (Dublin Theatre Festival) and Adam Barrett (Luminato Festival).
THE CONTEXT
The two performances deal with a Faroese perspective on various topics that form the reality of life in a small and secluded place often forgotten by the world around it.
Being surrounded by the ocean forms the lives of the Faroese people in different ways. There is a tremendous respect for the ocean which can be generous and providing as well as cruel and dividing. A life connected to the sea means being dependent on it in many ways; It is a life source to many, meaning being separated months at a time by the ocean is a reality many live in. The ocean has stories of loss, sorrow, longing, survival and pride.
“Two-alone // tveyeini” is centred around experiences connected to the sea, however, from a broader perspective, it deals with themes such as yearning, longing, sorrow, uncertainty and waiting, which tell a story that goes far beyond the those connected to island life. It is relevant to today’s society where the prominence of loneliness is a growing issue and shows the importance of human connection.
It is a lived reality that the Faroe Islands has a history of having a conservative viewpoint and still has a long way to go when it comes to i.e. LGBTQ+ rights and providing platforms to tell queer stories and experiences. “Memory: nails scratching back // Minni: neglir klóra rygg” tells a story from a queer point of view, dealing with lust, confusion, oppression and trauma. The work is a journey through scattered memory fragments with the performers attempting to make sense of reality and fill in the blanks. In today’s Faroese society there is an urge to change outdated structures, have the courage to speak up and feel seen. With the growing population, especially within young adults making a definite choice to move back to the islands, redefining the Faroese identity and values for future generations and as part of a globalised world is an important factor.
MINNISBROT invites the audience into a universe with space to reflect on your own experiences and memories.
THE COMPANY
RIVA is the first contemporary dance company in the Faroe Islands. Our goal is to create more work opportunities for dance artists in and from the Faroe Islands, to contribute to the development of the dance environment on the islands and create high quality dance performances rooted in the Faroese perspective.
INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY
What place do we as small-nation artists have within an international context? We believe that including artists from rural and underrepresented areas is an important part of adding diversity to the international field of performing arts. We believe that art made in smaller secluded areas is a valuable part of the global whole and deserves recognition and visibility. By integrating perspectives from such areas, RIVA seeks to contribute unique narratives and experiences, promoting recognition and visibility on a global platform.
CONTACT PERSON
Vár Bech Árting, riva.fdc@gmail.com, +298260815
TARGET AUDIENCE GROUP
Adults
TRIGGER WARNINGS
Semi-nudity
FORMAT AND SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability from a Faroese angle in connection to dance productions and restaging/touring has two angles: To create a sustainable dance environment in the Faroe Islands, where the future of dance does not depend on one person. MINNISBROT has been a project where the focus has been on putting together a strong team of Faroese artists and creating a flexible work format that makes it easier for the artists to meet and work on the project over a longer period of time, in an environment where there is a lack of structure for dance training, dance education, and dance productions. A smaller team helps to ensure that the works have a longer lifespan as it is easier to gather the team again and provide the necessary facilities to accommodate the participating artists. A sustainable work which is easy to re-stage and tour with a small team consisting of 4 dance artists and one lighting designer. A simple stage set-up; 7 boxes, which are built to be able to fit into each other during transport, so that they take up less space and fit into one small van.
SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
The urgency behind establishing RIVA was to create a core and voice for Faroese dance artists. By doing so we are creating a work environment built on colleagueship and common ownership. Collectively, on a political and social level, we are working towards establishing dance as an integrated part of the Faroese art field as well as an export. In addition, we see it as our responsibility to spread more and better knowledge about dance in a professional context and as an art form and make dance a possible career path for future generations.