Simone Grotte Will Bring TUNGRODD to Den Norske Opera This Month

With the icy, wool-warm Tungrodd, Simone Grøtte creates her first work for the Norwegian National Ballet – rooted in her Sámi and Kven heritage. Performances will run 14-20 April.

We find ourselves under a table together with a seven-year-old girl, who is listening to stories being told. The kitchen clock is ticking, there’s a fire in the oven and the adults are chatting over a cup of coffee. They’re speaking Norwegian, Sami and Kven. 

With this world premiere, choreographer Simone Grøtte tells a personal story rooted in her northern heritage. Tungrodd is a tale of different generations encountering resistance – brought to life on stage by dancers from the Norwegian National Ballet and the independent dance scene. 

Grøtte on the performance:  “When I was little, one of my favourite things to do was to sit under the kitchen table and listen to the grown-ups. They would talk about nature, traditions, people and encounters with the unexplainable. 

Sometimes, they switched to Sami. At the time, I thought it was annoying because I could no longer understand what they were talking about. As an adult, I've wondered why they did that. 

In Tungrodd , we explore what was said in hushed tones in a different language – or perhaps what was not said at all.” 

About Simone Grøtte

Simone Grøtte is a critically acclaimed choreographer from Lakselv in Finnmark. Her work reveals a strong sense of her Northern Norwegian, Sami and Kven background, which is woven into a modern expression through themes, set design and music.  

Her performances explore issues of identity and belonging, with a deeply human approach.  

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