THE ORPHIC CIRCLES
and Other Gossip

Who owns the “Golden Fleece?” Where do all the snakes come from? Does Eurydice even want to return to her former life? How does one dance words or speak through dance? How do we see music, hear visual art, where did language originate? And why do we dance in circles?

The legend of Orpheus, the artist, has stood the test of time. Tales of his love for Eurydice, his journeys to the underworld, his adventures with the Argonauts, and his encounters with the Maenads exist in various versions. However, this popular material has its roots in even older stories about the goddess Demeter, who watched her daughter Persephone taken into the hands of Hades.

In Iceland Dance Company’s new work, “The Orphic Circles and Other Gossip,” an attempt is made to interpret these myths—which so often revolve around the eternal cycle of growth and decay, using methods from various art forms. Focus is placed on transformations, artistic creation, and the process that gave rise to the idea of Orpheus as a genius—the man who hypnotizes all living things with his song and feeds on sorrow.

Premiered 28. Mars - 2026

Artistic Director/Creator/Choreographer:
Erna Ómarsdóttir

Set and Props Design:
Gabríela Friðriksdóttir

Costumes:
Karen Briem

Lighting Designer:
Pálmi Jónsson

Music:
Skúli Sverrisson & Valdimar Jóhannsson

Sound Design:
Valdimar Jóhannsson, Skúli Sverrisson, & Jón Örn Eiríksson

Video Projection and Technical Direction:
Valdimar Jóhannsson

Assistant Choreographer / Rehearsal Director:
Aðalheiður Halldórsdóttir

Dramaturg:
Bjarni Jónsson

The piece was created in close collaboration with the dancers of the Iceland Dance Company.

Dancers:
Andrean Sigurgeirsson, Bjartey Elín Hauksdóttir, Brian Gerke, Diljá Sveinsdóttir, Elín Signý W. Ragnarsdóttir, Emilía Benedikta Gísladóttir, Erna Gunnarsdóttir, Saga Kjerulf Sigurðardóttir, Shota Inoue, Una Björg Bjarnadóttir

Brass Band:
SVOM (School Band of Veturbær and Miðbær)

Arrangement for Brass Band:
Ingi Garðar Erlendsson

Conductors of the Brass Band:
Ingi Garðar Erlendsson and Svanhildur Lóa Bergsveinsdóttir

Stage Manager:
Laufey Haraldsdóttir

Stagehand:
Heba Sól Baldursdóttir

Assistance with Sign Language Interpretation:
Margrét Baldursdóttir

Assistance with Costumes, Set, and Props:
Helga Jóakimsdóttir and Alexía Rós Gylfadóttir

Special Thanks:
Hlynur Páll Pálsson, Una Björg Bjarnadóttir, Charmene Pang, and the actors in the original production in Freiburg.