Stars in a piece with no name

Photo: Martin Myrvold

Stars are really fascinating, I find. Not because what they are made of or how they have come into being. I could probably read about them and gain some knowledge, but I don’t have the patience to really get it. Instead I accepted that that they are just shiny and beautiful in the sky, visible for me and others when it is dark. They are just there, a bit like they are there for me to watch. They don’t do anything special, aren't trying to be anything special. They are just there, making the sky a little bit more beautiful. 

There’s something else about them that I find curious. If I watch them long enough, it is like they start to communicate with me. They are not doing anything, but something in me changes after a while. To make it happen I need to engage in watching without expecting anything particular to happen. I am just in the watching. Then, sometimes something is happening between me and the stars. I don’t know if I have the words for it but it’s not so important. However, what is important, is that something is different when I stop watching the stars and go for a late dinner with my family.

Choreography: Bente Alice Westgård

Dancers:  Rannei Grenne, Karen Eide Bøen, Louis Schou/Bente Alice Westgård, Sebastian Biong, Julie Steinjord Mjøen (2020 version)

Lighting design: Martin Myrvold

Costumes: Kristine Gjems/Bente Alice Westgård

Soundtrack: Hugo Hedberg/Bente Alice Westgård

Outside eye: Janne-Camilla Lyster og Loan Ha

Thanks to Janne-Camilla Lyster, Loan Ha, Bojana Cvejig, Mårten Spångberg, Eivind Seljeseth, Håkon Vadstein and Marie Bergby Handeland.

This piece was originally made as part of my graduation project at Oslo National Academy of the Arts i 2017. In 2018 it was shown at Black Box Teatre in Oslo. During the fall 2020 the piece was touring with dance network Dansenett Norge and was shown at Rosendal Teater/Verkstedhallen, Ælvespeilet, Hurtigrutens Hus and Kultursal Alta.