ROMEO ❤️ JULIET
A work by Erna Ómarsdóttir og Halla Ólafsdóttir, music by Sergei Prokofiev.
Iceland Dance Company brings to the stage Romeo ❤️ Juliet, the renowned dance work by Erna Ómarsdóttir and Halla Ólafsdóttir in collaboration with dancers from Iceland Dance Company.
ROMEO ❤️ JULIET was originally created in collaboration with the dancers of Ballet des Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz, München, and premiered in the fall of 2018. The work will be developed, adapted and re-created with the dancers of Iceland Dance Company. Using Shakespeare’s play as a starting point, Romeo ❤️ Juliet by Erna Ómarsdóttir and Halla Ólafsdóttir merges contemporary dance, visual art and Prokofiev´s music. The performance deconstructs the original story into a web of simultaneous narratives, merging references from popular culture with the language of ballet. The outcome is a nightmarish monster; an abstract world full of blood, love, ballet exorcism, fire, dance and death. Romeo ❤️ Juliet glides across the sands of consciousness. Like a bloody river, winding its way to sea.
„A brave, amazing, committed and disturbing ensemble performance and a triumph for the fearless Icelanders” – BR Klassik
„Never before has a dance performance repelled, fascinated and confused me. I just wanted to go home in between, but was completely mesmerised by the actions on stage” – Kassik Begeistert
„Romeo ❤️ Juliet glides over the sediments of consciousness – like a bloody river making its way into the sea” – Munich and co.
Artistic Directors and Choreographers: Erna Ómarsdóttir and Halla Ólafsdóttir
Music: Sergei Prokofiev & Skúli Sverrisson (Watching Water)
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet performed by London Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by: André Previn
Set: Chrisander Brun
Costumes: Karen Briem & Sunneva Ása Weishappel
Video: Valdimar Jóhannsson in collaboration with Erna Ómarsdóttir & Halla Ólafsdóttir
Lights: Fjölnir Gíslason
Dancers: Ásgeir Helgi Magnússon, Charmene Pang, Emilía Benedikta Gísladóttir, Erna Gunnarsdóttir, Félix Urbina Alejandre, Saga Sigurðardóttir, Shota Inoue, Sigurður Andrean Sigurgeirsson, Una Björg Bjarnadóttir & Védís Kjartansdóttir.
Premiere October 1st at the Reykjavik City Theatre
Photographer: Hörður Sveinsson