Dancer
Sebastian is a dancer with his Sami roots in Ammarnäs but also among the families who were forced to migrate south from the Karesuando area in the 1930’s. Through his dance he invokes the voices of his origins while keeping one leg firmly planted in urban dance cultures. In his artistry he is exploring versatility as a mover, interested in the body as ancestral yet also experimental when it comes to claiming his own indignity through dance.
About the art
The project Guoddi represents a unique art performance as well as visual art where dance and music are sculpted through the expression of avant-garde duodji. These elements, deeply rooted in the Sami craft tradition, move towards highly experimental forms of expression. "Guoddi", a word from the Northern Sami language that means someone who carries, in this context becomes a metaphor for the role of the dancers. They wear body parts that symbolize pride and strength, but also the weight and burden that carrying an indigenous culture can entail. Guoddi is thus a central element in this performance, a bearer of cultural identity and history. Through a creative collaboration between designer and duojár Ann-Sofie Kallok, dancers Ánna-Katri Helander and Sebastian Björkman and composer Anthoni Hætta, a new and exciting artistic landscape is explored, where the body elements not only influence, but determine the direction of the other art forms. The composer and dancers draw inspiration from the expression, movement and temperament of the elements. In the final product, music and dance are united in a way that elevates the avant-garde elements into a powerful, challenging and multidimensional performance. This performance is not just a dance, but a symbiosis of art forms that together create a unique and memorable experience.
Residency with the production Guoddi
"Thank you all for taking care of us. Both Jimmy and Liv and the Workaways. We had a really good first ever residency here." / Sebastian and the Guoddi Crew
Sebastian Björkman at the opening of Jillat with Guoddi, where he did a solo version.
Original cast
Dancers: Ánna-Katri Helander & Sebastian Björkman
Composer: Anthoni Hætta
Duodjár: Ann-Sofie Kallok
Videographer: Kenneth Ly
Edit: Liv Aira
The show is originally seen through a window with the audience outside. Sebastian also came back to Jillat after the opening to have an art recidency with his team. During Jokkmokk wintermarket they were back again to share the full show of Guoddi.
Guoddi is a cross-artistic synthesis of movement and sound. The theme is avant-garde, with the goal of conveying Sámi identity beyond traditional norms. Kallok's avant-garde duodje is central and has shaped the expression taken by the other art forms.