Coming to IN2IT: Highly Melanated
A journey through time and a tribute to the roots of jazz dance
What does dance tell us about our history – and who gets the space to tell it?
At IN2IT 2027, we are delighted to present Highly Melanated by Daniel Sarr, in collaboration with Dansenett Norge. Six dancers take us into the African and African American roots of jazz dance, in a performance that embraces celebration, resistance and questions of identity.
Performance text: Dansenett Norge
In Highly Melanated, six dancers delve into the history of jazz dance. Blending jazz, hip-hop, African dance and contemporary dance, the performance both celebrates and shines a light on dance’s African heritage. The result is a vibrant celebration of jazz dance history, with fresh discoveries at every turn.
The performance takes its movement vocabulary from the African continent and its African American descendants. The journey begins in precolonial Africa before moving to Harlem in the United States, the birthplace of swing dance in the 1930s and 1940s. Along the way, it traces a history shaped by the transatlantic slave trade and American plantations. Choreographer Daniel Sarr explores the choreography, dance, rhythm, strength and resistance that emerged from one of the darkest chapters in human history.
Daniel Sarr is a choreographer and dancer specialising in hip-hop and jazz dance. Dancing professionally since the age of 13, he has worked with renowned dance companies, artists and a range of television productions. With Highly Melanated, he has established himself as a choreographer with a passion for the rich history of dance, its heritage and its role in shaping identity. This is an engaging and energetic performance that never loses sight of the gravity of the history it brings to the stage.
In an interview with Periskop, Sarr reflects on the significance and standing of jazz dance:
“Highly Melanated conveys a sense of pride in just how political and influential jazz dance really is. It stands on the shoulders of traditional African dance, yet it has a low status in Norway,” Sarr tells Periskop.
Read the full interview here (in Norwegian).
About the choreographer
Daniel Sarr began working professionally in street dance and commercial dance at the age of 13. At 16, he was accepted into the Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHiO), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in jazz dance.
He specialises in hip-hop and jazz, with additional training in other styles. His extensive experience spans stage and commercial work, including collaborations with companies and choreographers such as Oslo Danse Ensemble, Cre-8, Jo Strømgren, Fredrik Benke Rydman, Ingri Fiksdal, Nordic Black Theatre, NSP and Nakul Dev Mahajan. Sarr also works as a dancer and choreographer on a range of television productions.
Daniel has danced for artists including A.R. Rahman, Madcon, Loreen, Julie Bergan and Ask Embla. In 2008, he reached the top 16 in So You Think You Can Dance Scandinavia, and in 2011 he won Eurovision Young Dancers, representing Norway.
Highly Melanated will be presented in Bræin Operasal on Saturday 13 March 2027 at 19:00.
Watch the performance trailer here:
Credits
Choreographer and dancer: Daniel Sarr
Dancers: Aina Gnoutou, Kevin Mbugua, Ornilia Ubisse, Sarjo Sankareh, Maria Karlsen
Costume designer: Cårejonni Enderud
Music producer: Nikolai Nypan
Set and lighting designer: Agnethe Tellefsen
Outside eyes: Hooman Sharifi and Deise Nunes
Set construction: Barbro Bekken
Lighting technician: Anders Skistad
Promotional photography: Antero Hein
Photography and film: Elin Osjord
Presented in collaboration with Dansenett Norge.
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