The
Project
While In Battle I'm Free, Never Free to Rest is an explosion of collective forces.
The title of the show is a quote from civil rights activist James Baldwin. While In Battle I'm Free, Never Free to Rest. Is life a fight for life or death? Or a energetic dance party, where we just set our bodies free?
For uncompromising choreographer Hooman Sharifi, art is always political. In a time full of conflicts, where groups are torn apart, fight each other and go to war, he sets in with a masterpiece about the collective power of change. About how, if we make room, our differences will create new opportunities. About how we all fight to be free in a world. In unity, with each our own voice
The
Dancers
The show features dancers from the Swedish contemporary dance company, Cullberg. They are continually working with choreographers from around the world to explore and challenge how dance can be defined, produced and presented. Read more on the Cullberg website
In While In Battle I'm Free, Never Free to Rest, Cullberg is joining forces with dancers from the street dancing community to create something truly unique in collaboration with Sharifi.
The
Square
The show takes place on one of the most iconic public squares in Copenhagen, Blågårds Plads. For more than 100 years, the square has served as a democratic meeting point for people of all classes. In this same spirit, Danish sculptor Kai Nielsen famously decorated the square with 22 granite figures depicting different crafts, honoring the working class.
During its lifetime, tha square has witnessed both the true beauty that urban life has to offer – but it has also been home to heated conflicts. All of these historical contrasts is also what makes Blågårds Plads the perfect surroundings for the show with its underlying messages about cultural diversity and unity.
The
Choreographer
Hooman Sharifi, a distinguished Norwegian choreographer with Iranian roots, is renowned for his compelling fusion of dance, theater, and visual art. Born in Tehran in 1973, Sharifi embarked on a solo journey to Norway at the age of 15. His dance career, initially rooted in hip-hop, evolved through classical and modern ballet, culminating in his unique, physically demanding style that challenges the boundaries between various art forms.
In 2000, Sharifi founded Impure Company, a platform dedicated to integrating social engagement and political commentary into the arts. With over 30 innovative dance works to his name, Sharifi's choreography delves into the emotions and structures hidden behind hierarchies, violence, power, and abuse. His belief that "art = politics" is evident in his works, which invite audiences to engage in dialogue and reflection.
A graduate of the Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Sharifi's impact extends beyond his company. He has served as the Artistic Director and CEO of Carte Blanche, Norway's national company of contemporary dance. His educational background includes studies at the State Ballet School and Hartvig Nissen School, further solidifying his expertise and influence in the world of contemporary dance.
Sharifi's contributions to the arts have garnered recognition both in Norway and internationally, making him a pivotal figure in the contemporary dance scene.
