Meridians

Meridians is a search for connection with ourselves and other cultures, with languages that we do not speak or understand, and which are now very rarely spoken, if at all. These and more widely known languages appear in folk songs that carry a sense of homeland and deep knowledge of tradition.

To dive deeper into this space, Sjaella works with native speakers and learns from their relationship with the songs of their culture. The program asks which texts and melodies still speak to us today.

Folk songs are often linked to rituals and celebrations that involve physical action alongside music. Meridians brings together song and language with movement, dance, body percussion and mime.

New works have been created in collaboration with composers, dressing old texts and melodies in new clothes. Traditions are not just memories of the past. They are living.