No Friend but the Mountains
Photo by Arnaud Beleen
Presentation
If we were free - what would we want our world to look like? 'No Friend but the Mountains' is a Kurdish expression expressing humans’ flight toward refuge from war and injustice. Using a choreographic compass, ‘No Friend but the Mountains’ intermittently juxtaposes our combative present, our dimly perceived prehistoric past, and our journey toward a more humane future. The performers intersects ancient knowledge and decolonial ritual, inviting the audience to envision a future where people are finally free to reacquaint with the earth.
In an encounter between Kurdish percussion and Ingá Márjá Sarre’s Jojk, these multiple temporal perspectives of the mountains are danced in a powerful interplay spanning past, present and future. Throughout the performance, Marit-Shirin is paying homage to her father, linking a family line of freedom fighters by establishing modes of resistance by dancing. As such, the urgency of 'No Friend but the Mountains' molds dancing into a unifying force: between human relationships, between performers and the observers.
The production provides the latest chapter in the long-term project Humans & Soil, whose ongoing creations have been informed by commitments to the history and present of Indigenous peoples, and to hosting workshops, seminars, research and performances internationally. Its namesake is rooted in the Kurdish notion: ‘No friends but the mountains’, emphasizing Indigenous peoples’ search for sanctuary from war and injustice. Its series haven’t merely emphasized an imperative for justice, but also sensitivity for all disregarded life with intrinsic connections to earth: non-human animals, plants and people under oppression. We choose to do this by revitalising relevant Indigenous wisdom, insights from ecological feminism and deep, abiding respect for nature and the lessons it continues providing us.
Artistic team:
Dancers: Marit-Shirin Carolasdotter, Stella Blanc, Hector Palacios, Paz Moreno
Jojk: Ingá Márjá Sarre
Music: Hussein Zahawy
Artistic advisor: Anthony Rice Perttunen
Producer: Hanna Magdalena Gödl & Humans & Soil
Co-producer: Norrlandsoperan, Beáivvaš - Sámi Našunálateáhter
Contributing artists: Juvvá Pittja, Melisa Diktaş, Luna Ersahin
In connection to the performance we offer artistic talks, seminars and dance workshops. Contact us for more information:
email: info@humansandsoil.com
Chapter 2:
Dance Short
Filming and editing by Kenneth Ly
Location: Gurhketjåhke, Västerbotten
Dancers: Marit-Shirin Carolasdotter & Melisa Diktaş.
Music and text: Luna Ersahin/AySay
Production Assistant: Lucile Bensimon
Official selection: CinéCorps, Rennes 2025, Botkyrka Konsthall 2025, Dansfilmfestivalen, Gothenburg 2024
Photo by Hector Palacios
Dancers Marit-Shirin Carolasdotter and Stella Blanc
Background
Chapter 1:
The idea behind the creative process started with a reflection upon activism and the fight for human rights, if we were to be free - what would we like the world to be, look like? Together with artist Anahita Babaei, we reseached the kurdish/iranian liberation movement, Jîn Jîyan, Azadi, and what we really mean by freedom for women under oppression. What are we fighting for?
The project took its first steps by organising a workshop week/research in Brussels 2022 at Garage29 and later in Stockholm to investigate these questions, gathering Indigenous women and non-binary dancers from Kurdistan, South America and Sápmi to weave, sing and perform together. The residency at SITE Stockholm resulted in a showcase at Dansens Hus Stockholm for the programme ‘Movers Signum’ 2022.
Chapter 2:
Making of the short dancefilm ‘No Friend but the Mountains’ at Gurhketjåhke, Sápmi with Umeå based filmmaker Kenneth Ly (scroll down for link)
Participants: Marit-Shirin Carolasdotter, Melisa Diktaş, Luna Ersahin/Aysay
PA: Lulu Bensimon
The film may be requested for screenings, exhibitions and festivals. Email us for more information: info@humansandsoil.com
Chapter 3:
‘No Friend but the Mountains’ with a premiere at Beáivvaš - Sámi Našunálateáhter 10th of June 2025, with a planned performance at Norrlandsoperan 2026 following with a tour (TBA)
The project is supported by:
Norrlandsoperan, Beáivvaš - Sámi Našunálateáhter, Nordic Culture Point,
Dansinitiativet, Konstnärsnämnden, Davvi - Senter for Scenekunst, The Barents Euro-Arctic Council, Dáiddafoanda, Dans i Västerbotten, Danscentrum Norr, Pohjanmaan Tanssin Aluekeskus
Chapter 1
Residencies 2022
Photos by Arnaud Beleen
residency workshop at Garage 29, Brussels 2022.
Dancers: Laleshka Salas, Paz Moreno, Zorybel Garcia
From Elverket, Dansens Hus as part of the programme ‘Movers Signum’.
Work in progress 2022
Participants: Marit Shirin Carolasdotter, Melisa Diktas, Laleshka Salas, Ebba Ulfhjelm Boström, Paz Moreno, Zorybel Garcia.
Discourse
24th of June 2022, Choreographer Marit Shirin Carolasdotter was invited by Amanda Piña and Tanzqartier Wien to “The Mountain Talks” to speak from the position of the mountain in Sápmi; "Átjek” in connection to the current plans for mining in Gallók, as well as Marit Shirin’s exploration of her mountain ancestry from Sulaymaniah, Kurdistan. This talk inspired us to incorporate discourse and exchanges through dialogue in connection to our performance.