Where is the difference between life and art? Hard to say, of course. At the Blood Club during the Northern Norway Games, life, art and the struggle for identity were united through song, dance, drumming and spitting competitions. Blood has always been associated with religion and rituals. The life force itself lies there, and your blood tells who you are. So when the Northern Norway Games presented the Blood Club concept as something that will explore culture and genetics through aggression, adrenaline and laughter, I thought that this is where I should be. I soon understood that this was a talking point in Harstad. So I stood in the long queue in front of the tent by the harbor promenade. But if I were to slip in, my skull would have to be measured first. I kind of felt a guffaw from the past, but everyone seemed so fired up about having their skulls measured that I thought I’d leave it at that. Categorized as long-skull, I was ready for the club. SKULL MEASUREMENT: Sigbjørn Skåden from Blood Club has online measured the skull of a participant and marked it as long skull (long line). The contestant is ready for bloody competition. Photo: Renate Jensen Identity in play The blood club concept is not new, it was started in 2018 and has held club evenings under the auspices of Ferske Scener. The four founders Sigbjørn Skåden, Kristina Junttila, Kristin Bjørn and Bernt Bjørn all have Norwegian, Finnish or Sami backgrounds. At the Blodklubb evenings, they put identity at stake. The concept started with all four of them taking a genetic test to confirm where they came from, and this is the starting point for celebrating the blood. That is where the identity lies. In an artistically smart and entertaining way, they thematize who one should be in a culture that is constantly changing. This time the questions were asked with drumming, games, karaoke and throwing darts at water balloons filled with blood. DAY OF BLOOD: Various texts, images and videos appeared on large screens. Here: The martial language of Blood Club, which during the Festspillene in Harstad marked its own invention “Blodets dag”. Photo: Roger Hennum Blood players As at all meetings (for Blood Club is a kind of meeting), there is both song and (a bit too long) speeches – and dance. Skåden, Junttila, Bjørn and Bjørn are dressed in cardigans, sari, suits and everyday clothes. The audience gets popcorn, and this evening I will celebrate the day of blood. All four have short speeches with a lot of humor (in English due to foreign listeners in the audience). The fact that the performance is in English stands in the way of something that seems to be the special thing about Blodklubb: the deep Nordic and Sami roots, the play and the exchange between the different languages. That aspect seems essential, and the absence of the linguistic game was noticeable. All the time, the popcorn machine bangs in the way. We sing the song of the blood, and soon we will dance to a new music video (great fun!). Then there is a raffle, then drum practice. And then come the blood games, where the hall is divided into teams (short-skinned versus long-skinned) and compete against each other in seven different disciplines: blood darts, tug-of-war, blood spitting, dance competition – among other things. This is where something happens: The temperature is high, the competitive instinct the same – people scream, spit blood, run and dance in a community that is quite interesting. After all, we are only divided into short shells and long shells for the occasion. DANCE: A completely new Blodklubb music video with additional choreography had its world premiere during the Northern Norway Festival. The audience was not bad at praying. Photo: Roger Hennum Laughter and roar What is Blodklubb actually? I see it as an attempt at collection. A kind of attempt at a unity full of differences. Or “a loving rabble”, as one report has previously called the concept. The fact is that this club has set itself in the body, he is not so easy to forget. What was I dancing for? What was I doing in team? Where did this community come from, the strength of the roar and the will to fight? And, not least, all the laughter? Blood Club is actually difficult to describe. You have to experience it, hear Bernt Bjørn sing and tell, he is like the magnet in the foresight. ALLSONG: Skodes player Bernt Bjørn is one of the front figures in Blodklubb. He has a strong presence and easily gets the whole hall singing along. Photo: Roger Hennum The parts of the text are heavy, perhaps mostly because it is written in English. The structure of the club night is not exactly tight, and it will be a long evening. But it is an experience that is not finished so easily. I’m curious about what happens when English doesn’t get in the way. That might mean I have to go back next time. news reports Photo: Roger Hennum Title: “Blodklubb” Choir: Sentralen in Harstad, during the Northern Norway Festival By and with: Bernt Bjørn, Kristina Junttila, Kristin E. Bjørn, Sigbjørn Skåden, Eva Svaneblom In collaboration with: Ferske Scener i Tromsø Music: Ondt Blod Date: 23 June 2024 Hi! I review theatre, performing arts and dance for news as a freelancer. Also read my reviews of “Det mørke fortet” by Riksteatret, “Vildanden” by the National Ballet in the Opera, or “Moby Dick” by Det Norske Teatret. Published 26.06.2024, at 15.39
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“Blood club” during the Northern Norway Festival – news Culture and entertainment
