Undersang is an outdoor work by Harald Beharie in collaboration with Karoline Bakken Lund, Veronica Bruce and Christian Beharie, which takes shape as a collective walk and a performance in the forest.
Undersang is a tapestry of opulent configurations soaked in a shimmer of extravagant gestures. Here mythologies, national romantic ideals and science fiction converge, revealing a world of ancient powers.
Placing Afro-Nordic diasporic narratives in the forest, Undersang weaves conceptions of blackness, nature and dissonance as a strategy of empowerment. Sparking questions about what it means to belong.
Undersang is queer ecology in the making, using extravagance and romanticism as a site for refusal, for reclaiming time. Looking beyond the idea of ownership, it seeks a fertile ground for healing, for lament and for celebration.
«I don't know if the performative actually transforms society, but this performance at least gives me faith in the potential of art in the world.»
Julie Amundsen - Scenekunst.no Oslo, 02.06.2024
As the intensity increases, the pace builds, and the choreography becomes more technical and narrative, Harald Beharie's work becomes simply beautiful, inexplicably moving.
Katia Tamburello - Chaos Cultura Geneve, 08.09.2024
Choreography
Harald Beharie
Sculptures
Karoline Bakken Lund and Veronica Bruce
Composer, sound
Christian Beharie
Performers
Loan Ha, Mariama Slåttøy, Carlisle Sienes, Jens Trinidad, Nosizwe Baqwa, Amie Mbye and Harald Beharie
Faciliatator/ Dramaturg
Deise Nunes
Outside eye
Hooman Sharifi
Producer
Mariana Suikkanen Gomes
Distribution
Damien Valette
Co-producers
Black Box Teater(Oslo)Dansens Hus (Oslo)
BIT (Bergen) Rosendal Teater (Trondheim) RAS (Sandnes) TOU (Stavanger)
Thank you to: Sudesh Adhana, Gabrielle Bozee, Marie Cole, Amika Elfendi, Pål Græsvik, Gloria Kapako, Erick Kelly, Torbjørn Kolbeinsen, Nicolas Jara Marthinsen, Magne Misje, Sudesh Adhana, Faduma Mohamud, Lara Okafor, Siham Ouazzif, Ellen Palmeira, Sven Undheim og Charlott Utzig
The project received the Norwegian Critics prize for 2024.
Photo: Julie Hrncirova
2025
La Batie, Geneve (CH) 6 - 8 September
Saal Biennale (EE) - 26 - 27 August
Teaterformen, Hannover(DE)- 21 & 22 June
Munch Museum, Oslo (NO)-(Indoor version - commision) 14 June
Urb Festival, Kiaasma, Helsinki (FI) - 5 june
Hangö Teatertreff, Hangö (FI)- 6- 7 June
2024
BIT - teatergarasjen, Bergen 24 - 25 October
Bodø Biennale, Bodø 7.September
RAS & Tou Scene, Stavanger 21 - 22. august
Rosendal Teater, Trondheim 8 - 9. June
Dansens Hus & Black Box Teater 30. may - 02. June (PREMIERE)