Norrdans
AIR BODY SAD

The body is in flight even when it sinks in the darkest hour.

In the dance performance AIR BODY SAD, British-American choreographer Malik Nashad Sharpe and Norrdans invite the audience into a world of dark fantasy and horror. Here, every movement is a struggle between despair and hope. Through rhythmic and intense choreography, the work explores the boundaries of the body and what happens when it moves at the intersection of haunted margins and shiny popular culture.

Coloured by the intense fragility of coming of age films, AIR BODY SAD reflects the time in life when everything is uncertain, too much, too close. A time when the body is fumbling for belonging and harbours an inner rebellion that cannot be tamed.

Norrdans meets Malik Nashad Sharpe in a collaboration that challenges both traditions and senses. Together with an artistic team that moves effortlessly between art and popular culture, an experience is created in which melancholy and despair are not just goals, but starting points for finding light in the darkness.

AIR BODY SAD is part of the celebration of Norrdans’ 30th anniversary – three decades of exploring the power of movement, challenging norms and inviting unexpected encounters between body, heart and mind.

For youth from age 13 and adults.

Norrdans is one of Sweden’s largest dance companies based in northern Sweden. An epicentre for contemporary dance and choreography in all its magnificent forms. From the company’s home in northern Sweden, they create and perform for the whole of Västernorrland and regularly go on national and international tours. You can meet Norrdans on stage, on the street, at school, at work – well, anywhere and now for the first time in Dansehallerne. Malik Nashad Sharpe is a British-American choreographer and performance artist known for his experimental and politically thought-provoking work. With an ability to move seamlessly between genres such as music videos, fashion campaigns and contemporary dance, Sharpe challenges traditional notions of dance and choreography. Sharpe’s work often focuses on identity and power structures, exploring the body’s relationship to politics and society and has been recognised for its deep and reflective approach to contemporary issues of power, sexuality and identity. Tabitha Thorlu-Bangura is a London-based curator specialising in music and contemporary culture. She is the founder of the interdisciplinary platform Sabi Arts and has held a senior role at the internationally acclaimed NTS Radio for 12 years, most recently as Director of Music & Programming. Her multidisciplinary artistic practice has also included musical direction for film and contemporary dance. She was music director for The African Desperate, the first feature film by artist Martine Syms, for the solo work Goner by dancer and choreographer Malik Nashad Sharpe, and for the short film A Radical Duet by Onyeka Igwe. She hosted the TTB Show on NTS for over a decade and also DJs under the same name at high-end clubs and venues across the UK and Europe. Erik Annerborn is a costume designer and creative director based in Sweden and works across Europe. With a strong interest in the performative aspects of the design process as well as the sensual and social appeal embedded in the clothes, Erik creates costumes for and with dancers who want to go deeper. Current collaborations include Bend Up, Choke by Malik Nashad Sharpe, Casino by Ofelia Jarl Ortega, On My Tongue by Emilie Gregersen, Yielding by Escarleth Romo Pozo and Hyo by Daniel Jeremiah Persson.

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Artist

Norrdans

Title

AIR BODY SAD

Type

Performance

Date

  • 20.10.2025, 20:00
  • 21.10.2025, 20:00
  • 22.10.2025, 14:00

Duration

1 hour 5 minutes

Venue

Dansehallerne, Franciska Clausens Plads 27, 1799 Copenhagen V

Credits

Dancers: Viktoria Andersson, Gorik Bellemans, Ruben Brown, Silas da Silva Roller, Alvilda Faber Striim, Kaelin Isserlin, Kevin Julianto, Sierra Kellman, Sofia Larriera, Ellie Vermunt. Choreography and lighting design: Malik Nashad Sharpe. Music direction: Tabitha Thorlu Bangura. Set design: Felix Villiers. Costume design: Erik Annerborn. Composer: Luke Blair. Produced by Norrdans.

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