Sand Flight

Project summary:

Sand Flight is an innovative, large-scale public performance exploring humanity’s evolving relationship with nature, inspired by Nordic Bronze Age sun-worshipping practices. Performed outdoors on a constructed six-meter sand dune, Sand Flight features ten dancers and a choir who engage with themes of climate migration, shade-worshipping, and environmental adaptation. Premiering at The Bentway in Toronto in June 2025, the performance then tours to venues across the Faroe Islands, Denmark, Portugal, Latvia, and Norway, adapting to local conditions with the involvement of local choirs and dancers. 

The concept draws from historic Nordic sun-worship and the phenomenon of migrating sand dunes, specifically Denmark’s Råbjerg Mile. Set on a large sand dune that symbolizes shifting environmental landscapes, Sand Flight imagines how shade-worship might evolve in response to global warming and extreme weather. Choreographically, performers navigate gravity and instability as they climb, descend, and move through sand, a metaphor for climate challenges. 

Comment from the fund:

Sand Flight is diverse both in its artistic ideas and in the methods used to produce and present the performance. The subject matter, based on ancient Nordic rituals, is compelling, and its commentary on global warming is innovative; there are possibilities of the project influencing how Nordic audiences perceive climate change. This project has strong artistic qualities that rely on the large-scale, site-specific nature of the project, as well as the active participation of the local performing arts community. 

Learn more here: Sand Flight