Event info

THE ORPHIC CIRCLES and other gossip

Work by Erna Ómarsdóttir

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 Cycles 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.

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?