“This is what I want to say, but it is not what they want to hear” : a qualitative study on Sámi dancers’ experience in dance education

Since my own dance practice is intertwined with my Sámi heritage and identity, I wanted to use my experiences to discuss the things I have found myself questioning regarding inclusivity and expressions of cultural identity in dance education. In this study I interview three Sámi dancers’, one of which is myself, to highlight our experiences of expressing Sámi heritage and identity through dance in an educational context. Through a qualitative analysis I then illustrate norms that have shown up in the experiences of these Sámi dancers. I then continue to discuss ways in which these norms could be affected and challenged to foster a more inclusive space in dance education. A summary of what I have found is that there are things that eat at us, things that carry us and things that help. It is important to highlight the narratives and experiences of students to create spaces safe to express identity and be creative.