Ensemble Works

Abstract

From May 9th – 16th 2025 the Contemporary Dance Practices graduate students from Iceland University of the Arts present two dance pieces; Divine by Halla Ólafsdóttir & Disaster Resilience of the Water by Sandrine Cassini. Dancers//Students: Andrea María Ólafsdóttir, Bertine Bertelsen Fadnes, Elida Angvik Hovdar, Elsa Kamöy Furuseth, Jaakko Juhani Fagerberg, Leevi Alpo Antinpoika Mettinen, Mari Ann Valkna, María Kristín Jóhannsdóttir, Rebekka Guðmundsdóttir & Torfi Tómasson.Programme director: Katrín GunnarsdóttirSet & costume design: Guðný Hrund SigurðardóttirLight & sound design: Valdimar JóhannssonLight & sound operator: María Jóngerð GunnlaugsdóttirDivineThe coven calls you inDivine is a dance performance by Halla Ólafsdóttir, originally premiered at Uniarts in Stockholm in 2024, now reimagined in collaboration with the 3rd year BA in Dance at LHI.The performance combines Halla’s long-term obsessions — the diva, the witch, and the rockstar — with the idea of the dancer as a channeler of the divine. Through choreography and sound, Divine becomes a balm for the senses, exploring the raw dynamics between performer and spectator.Divine invites you into a hypnotic world where a coven of dancers shapeshifts contemporary dance into a divine ritual, a divine narrative, a divine drag, a divine beast, a divine spiral, a divine attention, a divine pose, a divine listening, a divine crow, a divine rockstar, a divine composition, a divine shaking, a divine trajectory, a divine imagination, a divine feeling, a divine translation, a divine transmutation, a divine lake, a divine scream, a divine channeling, a divine choir, a divine diagonal, a divine forest, and a divine, disgustingly cute diva.Through movement, voice, and immersive soundscape, Divine transforms space — oscillating between the intimate and the epic. It is a ritual of collective energy, inspired by the stillness of a deep lake and the untamed force of a coven.Choreography: Halla Ólafsdóttir in collaboration with the dancersPiano music: Futö by Shida ShahabiSound design: Valdimar Jóhannsson and Halla ÓlafsdóttirVocals: Elida Angvik Hovdar and Torfi Tómasson together with the choir of dancers.All texts in the performance are written by the dancers.Disaster Resilience of the WaterIndividuals or communities thought of as a miniature universe or a world in itselfThe idea of the piece came as a reflection of the journey these 10 individuals took for the last 3 years of their lives. The program and the desire to study dance brought them together, here in Reykjavik from different countries, different background, experiences, needs, expectations. What does this mean? If we are bound to be together, is there an observation time, is there fear, are there doubts? About ourselves, about the others? When is the sense of community emerging? When do we start trusting each other? Are we influenced by the others? And as times passes by what will remain of this journey? Will it change us? What will we leave behind?I have asked the dancers to think of one to three words that could define their experience or memory of the time they had here.And I am eternally grateful to have had the opportunity to meet them at the beginning of their journey and accompany them to their farewell. Thank you Katrin for your trust.You gave me a beautiful gift.Thank you Andrea, Bertine, Elida, Elsa, Jaako, Leevi, Mari, Maria, Rebecca, Torfi. You are forever in my heart.Choreography: Sandrine CassiniMusic: Stil by Machinefabriek