BLÆÐI: Obsidian Pieces

Black Marrow
By Damien Jalet & Erna Ómarsdóttir
Original music by Ben Frost

In Black Marrow, the raw power of the body emerges as it struggles to survive in a suffocating world where instinct has been industrialized. Originally created for Chunky Move, one of Australia’s leading contemporary dance companies, the piece premiered at the Melbourne International Arts Festival in 2009. Now, it is reimagined in a new version created specifically for and with the Iceland Dance Company.

We reprise the award-winning production BLÆÐI: obsidian pieces on August 30 and September 6.

Les Médusées
By Damien Jalet

A haunting trio for women, Les Médusées was originally created for the Louvre Museum in Paris. The piece draws inspiration from the mystical presence of the goddess sculptures in the museum’s Marly Garden.

Babel(words)
By Damien Jalet & Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui

Two excerpts from the acclaimed work Babel(words):

Sin: A sensual and powerful duet inspired by the myth of the original couple, exploring their united and divided forces.

The Evocation: A contemporary interpretation of Zikr, a Sufi ritual in which repetition of a single word is used to dispel spiritual affliction.

The three choreographers featured in this evening have each left a distinct mark on the world of contemporary dance. Damien Jalet has created works for the Paris Opera Ballet, Scottish Dance Theatre, the Louvre Museum, and the Iceland Dance Company, receiving widespread acclaim. He has collaborated with prominent artists such as Marina Abramović, Bernhard Willem, and Christian Fennesz. Erna Ómarsdóttir, one of Iceland’s most respected dancers and choreographers, has worked with several of Europe’s leading dance and performance companies and currently serves as artistic advisor to the Iceland Dance Company. Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui is one of the most sought-after choreographers in the world today. He has created works for the Paris Opera Ballet, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet in New York, and the Royal Danish Ballet, and recently took on the role of artistic director of the Royal Ballet of Flanders.