Dance story
Iceland Dance Company
Iceland Dance Company
Artistic Director Erna Ómarsdóttir
Iceland Dance Company (IDC) is the national dance company of Iceland. Established in 1973, IDC is an independent public institution responsible for developing, creating and nurturing contemporary dance and choreography in Iceland.
Iceland Dance Company is a progressive contemporary dance company constantly building a repertoire of choreography by many of Europe’s leading choreographers. Simultaneously, the company has led the development of Icelandic choreography and nurtured home-grown talents who have received international acclaim, e.g. Erna Ómarsdóttir, Lara Stefansdottir, Katrin Hall, Valgerdur Runarsdottir, Halla Olafsdottir, Helena Jonsdottir and Saga Sigurdardottir. The combination of these two approaches to building its repertoire has created a unique position for IDC on the international dance scene.
The company’s home base is in Reykjavik City Theatre and the company tours both in and out of Iceland. IDC has given numerous outstanding performances in major international dance theatres and at festivals in Europe, China, Canada and the United States.
Performances organised by Mondigromax:
Romeo & Juliet
Artistic Directors and Choreographers: Erna Ómarsdóttir & Halla Ólafsdóttir
Music: Sergei Prokofiev & Skúli Sverrisson (Watching Water)
Romeo & Juliet by Erna Ómarsdóttir and Halla Ólafsdóttir combines contemporary dance, visual art and the music of Prokofiev. The representation deconstructs the original story and takes it to an abstract world full of blood, love, exorcism, fire, dance and death.
May 20 & 21, 2022
Teatro Arriaga, Bilbao, Spain
Press quotes
“Described as a ‘monstrous nightmare,’ the choreographers deconstruct the original story into a web of simultaneous narratives that melds popular culture references with the language of ballet.” Deia
“Shocking -and bloody- staging of Romeo and Juliet.” Deia
“What reading can be made of “Romeo and Juliet” after Me too? How can the patriarchal forms of ballet be evidenced when representing it?”. Dantzan
“A sugar-free “Romeo and Juliet” to hit the consciences of the attendees”. El Correo
“Don’t expect the sweetened version. From Iceland, the creator Erna Ómarsdóttir brings a radical and different version of the well-known ballet”. SuzyQ
The Best of Darkness
Choreography by Erna Ómarsdóttir and Valdimar Jóhannsson
Original music by Sigur Rós and Valdimar Jóhannsson
The Best of Darkness, the fourth and final piece in a series of works with original music by the Icelandic band Sigur Rós, is inspired by the darkness and vulnerability of the human body. The Icelandic dance company, led by Erna Ómarsdóttir, has created this work to explore these themes. The play first premiered at the Everybody’s Spectacular festival in Reykjavik in November 2018 and is now returning to the Arriaga Theatre.
November 29 & 30, 2019
Teatro Arriaga, Bilbao, Spain
Press quotes
“Iceland Dance Company returns to the Bilbao theater with this choreography by Erna Ómarsdóttir that takes darkness as a reference but shows it as a two-sided coin“. La Vanguardia
“Choreographer Erna Ómarsdóttir and the Iceland Dance Company invite us to embrace our shadows and weaknesses in ‘The Best of Darkness’, a powerful dance piece inspired by darkness.” El Correo
“Shocking dance piece inspired by darkness”. Danza Ballet
“The Iceland Dance Company invites us to embrace our shadows and weaknesses in “The Best of Darkness”. Danza Ballet
“The Arriaga Theater plunges into darkness with the Iceland Dance Company and“The Best of Darkness”. Doce notas
Black Marrow
Choreography by Erna Ómarsdóttir & Damien Jalet
Choreographer’s assistant: Sara Black
Original music by Ben Frost
Other music by Danzel
In Black Marrow, choreographers Erna Ómarsdóttir and Damien Jalet explore the relationship between the industrialized world and archaic energy through contemporary ritual. The dancers take various forms, including fossils, industrial machines and pagan Gods, to question how mythology and instincts affect our relationship with the environment.
February 16 & 17, 2018
Teatro Arriaga, Bilbao, Spain
Press quotes
“Black Marrow” is a piece full of original movements, where the dancers enter a rhythmic dance and take the form of fossils, machines or pagan Gods”. El Periódico
“The show contains images that immerse you in issues such as climate change, ecological disasters or today’s hedonistic way of life.” COPE
“In ‘Black Marrow’ the dancers end up falling into the black, becoming dark, confusing themselves with a substance that could be oil (the piece could be interpreted as a reflection on the greed that governs us).” El Correo
“Black Marrow […] showcases an industrialized world through a colossal physical display in dance that wowed audiences.” Danza Ballet
“Black Marrow is a piece packed with original movement and features haunting music by Ben Frost.” Columna Cero