DUELS
Duration: 60 minutes.
A work by Damien Jalet & Erna Ómarsdóttir.
Music by Jacopo da Bologna, Ben Frost, Valdimar Johannsson & Thom Yorke
DuEls is a journey through the Vigeland Museum choreographed by Belgian and French choreographer Damien Jalet and Erna Omarsdottir from Iceland, performed by dancers from Nagelhus Schia Productions and Iceland Dance Company.
Through a series of short and visceral pieces performed in the form of a tour performance through the museum’s various rooms, the dance contributes to release the concentrated energy in Gustav Vigeland’s sculptures. By embracing the mythological nature of the sculptures, the dancers use their ephemeral bodies to portray the duality and inner struggles of Vigeland’s immortal sculptures.
DuEls won the Subjekt prize 2020 as stage production of the year.
„It is wonderful to see the dialogue that arises between the dance and the sculptures. Duels is a performance that would work well as a TV-production, so that every spectator could get the best seat every time something new happens in a new room.” – Inger Marie Kjølstadmyr for Dagsavisen, 2 February 2020
„In each of the rooms in the museum we are met by new and overwhelming images that engage in a dialogue with sculptures depicting the struggle with nature and our fantasy creatures, the fear of death or the pain of a birth. In the last room of the parkour, a traditional Georgian song is performed a cappella, and their grieving, tender voices wrap comfortingly around the dancing couple. The performance couldn’t end in a more beautiful way, when it comes to the unique ability of art to bring the artists of the past and their work to life.” – Wiebke Kaube for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 4 February 7, 2020
„In Duels, the meeting between the static energy of the sculptures and the dynamic energy of the dance is a central element.” – Grace Tabea Tenga for scenekunst.no, 4 February 2020
„The sculptures come to life through the dance performance – which imitates, challenges and gives perspective to the sculptures. In a time where conceptual art is pervasive, it is wonderful to see art that requires so much discipline and skill.” – Danby Choi in the radio programme Studio 2 on NRK – The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, 5 February 2020
Choreography: Damien Jalet & Erna Ómarsdóttir
Composers: Jacopo da Bologna, Ben Frost, Valdimar Johannsson, Thom Yorke (Radiohead)
Song: Miriam Andersén, Jon Filip Fahlstrøm, Catharina Vehre Gresslien
Dancers: Thyri Huld Arnadottir, Jon Filip Fahlstrøm, Catharina Vehre Gresslien, Christina Guieb, Shintaro Oue, Erna Omarsdottir, Elin Signy Ragnarsdottir, Guro Nagelhus Schia, Vebjørn Sundby, Halla Thordardottir
AMP dancers: Judith Arupa, Stian Bergdølmo, David Forsberg, Anna Froysland, Nadege Kubwayo, Vilja Kwasny, Benjamin Larsen, Hanne Svenning
Rehearsal director IDC: Kata Ingva
Rehearsal assistants: Jon Filip Fahlstrøm, Halla Thordardottir
Lighting design: Martin Flack
Sound design: Terje Wessel Øverland
Costume: Alexandra Gilbert, Line Maher, Giulia Piersanti, Undercover/Jun Takahashi
Photo: Antero Hein, Valdimar Johannsson
Director Vigeland Museum: Jarle Strømodden
Head of Operations and Security Vigeland Museum: Jon TT Brandsnes
Project manager: Kristin Hjort Inao
Producer: Tara Ishizuka Hassel
Produced by: Nagelhus Schia Productions
Co-produced by: Iceland Dance Company, The Vigeland Museum and Bærum Kulturhus
Performances at Vigeland Museet, Oslo.