MERGING

This international and community-driven work will be co-created with local residents, featuring performances by Liv Vester Larsen, dancers Olivia Kirk and Yamit Salazar, and visual artist Nanna Rosenfeldt-Olsen, under the direction of choreographer Eliot Smith. Together with Liv and Nanna, Eliot also serves as the project’s artistic director.

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MERGING builds on the foundation of Eliot Smith and Liv Vester Larsen’s previous 2023 project, MERGE, and their collaborative work Coalfield to Landscape, performed at Woodhorn Museum in North East England. This new iteration shifts the focus to North Jutland, aiming to examine the region’s social and cultural complexities as well as the surrounding landscape.

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Key elements of the project include:

• Dance for the Masses: A large-scale community dance piece performed by local participants, led by two ESD dancers, celebrating diversity through movement.

• Community Workshops: Two workshops inviting local residents of all ages and backgrounds to explore movement, music, and dialogue with the creative team.

• Inclusive Creation: A safe and inclusive space will be fostered where all participants, regardless of experience, are invited to contribute equally to the development of high-quality artistic work.

• Widening Participation: The project welcomes individuals who may not typically engage with the arts, offering a chance to collaborate with an international dance company and local artists in their own community.