KIAC

Land Before Time is an artistic partnership from Sweden, formed by Joanna Holewa Chrona and Yared Tilahun Cederlund. Blending dance, deejaying, choreography, and sound composition, their work explores rhythm, connection, and the spaces between movement and music. Rooted in both local and global influences, they create performances that merge streetdance traditions with experimental sound and improvisation. Land Before Time’s piece Waterkind was selected by Aerowaves as part of the Twenty25 Artists, and presented at the Spring Forward Festival 2025. Their work has toured internationally to growing acclaim, reaching audiences across Europe and beyond. Previous and upcoming engagements include performances in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Lithuania, Holland, Scotland, the Netherlands, Croatia, the UK, and Italy. Guided by curiosity, nature, intuition, and rhythm, Land Before Time continues to explore how movement and sound can open spaces of empathy and collective transformation.

Joanna Holewa Chrona is a dancer, choreographer, project leader, and DJ based in Sweden and South Africa. Her dance practice is influenced by various movement traditions, ranging from the technically demanding and politically charged dance style of popping from the US to Pantsula, Sabar, and Afro-Cuban dance from South Africa, Senegal, and Cuba. Joanna's passion and motivation stem from the purity, honesty, and freedom found in improvisation, as well as her love for music, connecting with people, and viewing art as a healing and revolutionary force. Together with Yared Tilahun Cederlund she makes up the duo Land Before Time to, co-founded the non-profit organization AFIA with Theresa Gustavsson, and performs as a DJ under the name Shuwana. AFIA produces cultural events and stage performances with a vision to honor and spotlight African cultures, particularly through the 'Afia Festival' established in 2016.

Yared Tilahun Cederlund is a performer, a choreographer, and a composer. Between 2006–2013 Yared was active in the dance battle scene, taking part in Streetstar (Sweden) and Juste Debout (France). In recent years, he has participated as a dancer in a variety of performances, such as Idiom and Drone by Erik Linghede, Mental States of Sweden in Dance by Mattias Andersson with the Cullberg Ballet, Raised on Rhythm by Niki Tsappos and Festen by Viktor Fröjd, Kontakt by Lisa Janbell, and This That Unravels by Björn Säfsten. He is also the choreographer of the series of performances PULS. As a composer, Yared has scored works such as SORRY and YES by BamBam Frost and YEBO YES! by AFIA, among others. Through dance and movement, Yared found connection and a deep interest in music and sound. His compositions vary from groove based beats to more fluid soundscapes and melodies.