A still from a performance by the Villniss Dance Company in Norway recently.
The Norwegian Embassy and Rikskonsertene will contribute with a unique and spectacular cultural input at the inauguration of the Chess World Championship in Chennai on November 7. This is upon invitation from the Tamil Nadu Government.
The performance by Villniss Dance Company, a dynamic actor in the scenic folk music and dance scene in Norway, involves artists with extensive experience, both nationally and internationally. The troupe is led by Silje Onstad Hålien, Norway’s leading female dancer in halling (traditional dance). She is accompanied by Ådne Kolbjørnshus along with Markus Andreassen, Norwegian Champion in breakdance 2013.
Musically, the dance movements will be framed by the beautiful traditional chanting (joik) of Georg Buljo. Olav Luksengård Mjelva will color the performance by his fiddle tunes and Micke Nilsson (percussion) will add a groove to the performance, together with an Indian tabla player.
At the Inauguration Ceremony of the Chess World Championship, Villniss will push the limits of the traditional halling dance, creating a spectacular show of Norwegian traditions and acrobatics.
Collaboration between Norwegian performers and Indian dancers from Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts in Bangalore will create a bridge between Indian and Norwegian music.
Artists: Haalien, Silje Onstad, dance
Kolbjornsrud, Aadne, dance
Andreassen, Markus, dance
Hema, Bharathi Palani, dance,
Kannanthara, Balakrishnan Ajeesh, dance
Mjelva, Olav Luxengaard, fiddle, hardanger fiddle (trad Norwegian fiddle)
Buljo, Georg, chanting (joik), guitar
Nilsson, Micke, drums, percussion
Krishan Mohan, tabla
Choreography/Concept:
Haalien, Silje Onstad, artistic leader Villniss Dance Company
In cooperation with:
Palazhy, Jayachandran, artistic director, Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts
Video production:
Villniss Dance Company ©
Head of Logistics:
Nørbech, Daniel, Rikskonsertene (Concerts Norway)
Artistic producer/project leader:
Frydenlund, Hallgeir, Rikskonsertene (Concerts Norway)
-- via The Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi which is supporting the performance.
The dance is traditionally performed by young men at weddings and parties. The halling is a quick (95-106 bpm) dance in 6/8 or 2/4 that includes acrobatic, athletic competition between the dancers. Hallingdans can best be described as rhythmic acrobatic dance and consists of a number of steps which requires both strength and softness elation. The dance is associated with the valleys and traditional districts of Valdres and Hallingdal, where it is often referred to as the laus (loose dance). The term refers to it being danced solo, not in couples (although coupled halling dancing is traditional in the western parts of the country). According to some scholars, the word may refer to the fact that the dance was "half" the performance, as the other half was the springar (after the fashion of a Renaissance dance suite).
