dawn

This is a story of the working beings of Nordic mythology—the creatures, not the gods.

The story goes:

The horse Skinfaxi pulls the chariot of Dagr (day) across the sky, its radiant mane lighting up the world below. The horse Hrímfaxi, with its frost-covered mane, draws the chariot of Nótt (night) and the dew that settles on the earth during the night is said to be the froth from its bite.

Bound in an eternal cycle, Skinfaxi and Hrímfaxi represent the rhythmic passage of day and night—sun and moon chasing one another across the sky. In their ongoing journey, they behold each other’s worlds with wonder. At the threshold between their realms—dawn and dusk—lies twilight: a fleeting moment of transition, where the two meet and an exchange occurs. This is the beginning of a new cycle and space of awakening.

Dawn is the first in a series of works reinterpreting the runes of the Elder Futhark—the oldest known runic alphabet in Northern Europe – although its origin is disputed, both in terms of mythical stories and geographical source. Through a queer Afro-Nordic lens, Dawn offers new associations and possibilities, reclaiming the magical and transformative potential found in both light and shadow, and the vital moment between them.

With practices of engraving, etching and dragging, the room transforms into a shifting landscape in a never-ending cyclical dawn. The piece continues the tradition of mythmaking and magical storytelling, while also making a political and poetic gesture: inserting a Black, queer body into Norse mythology.

The work was performed at MDT 15-18.5.2025

BIO
Adam Seid Tahir (they/them) is a choreographer and creative technologist. Their two roles involve crafting performative work and designing/developing websites. These practices also merge and expand into writing texts, making video installations, 3D animation and crafting sensor-based instruments. Adam uses speculative imagination as a tool of resistance and centers their work around creating loud and immersive black queer fiction. They are interested in mythological figures, daydreaming and crafting affective machines. These interests often intersect through water, where they take the shape of sirens, waterfalls and submerged transatlantic communication cables. They have presented their work in contexts including: Kunstenfestivaldesarts (BE), MDT (SE), Kampnagel Summer Festival (DE), Rakete Festival @Tanzquartier (AT), Emergentia (CH), Batard (BE) and My Wild Flag (SE). They have worked with other artists including: Amina Seid Tahir, Lydia Östberg Diakité and Meleat Fredriksson. Website: adamseidtahir.xyz

CREDITS
Choreography & Performance by Adam Seid Tahir
Sound Design by Tati Au Miel
Lighting Design by Jonatan Winbo
Costume Design by Isabelle Edi
Manufacturing, hoofs by Hanna Kisch, Nina Johansson.
Costume assistant by Hanna-Thea Björö
Dramaturgy by Lydia Östberg Diakité
Technical coordination by Angela X
Producers Johnson & Bergsmark
Co-produced by Centrale Fies, Dansens Hus, MDT, Sophiensæle, Tou Scene, Slingan Tre Scener (Atalante, Dansstationen, MDT)