b12 spring
research or die.
no credits
b12 spring
location: eden***** studios
erna ómarsdóttir
dancing a Borderline musical
this workshop offers an intensive exploration of physical and vocal presence through movement, voice and performative action. drawing from erna ómarsdóttir’s practice as a contemporary dancer, choreographer and performer, the work focuses on extreme physicality, breath, voice, singing, screaming and everyday actions such as cleaning as choreographic material. participants engage in structured improvisations and performative tasks that investigate endurance, repetition and vulnerability. voice is approached as a physical force emerging from breath, effort and emotional charge, as well as a musical and narrative tool. movement and sound are treated as inseparable, allowing performers to shift between control and collapse, precision and chaos. the workshop explores theatricality, labour and excess as tools for transformation, emphasising awareness, risk-taking and presence. it is suitable for dancers, performers and artists interested in rigorous physical work and embodied vocal practice. participants should be prepared for demanding physical engagement and open experimentation.
the description reflects an artist’s idea which was developed at the time it was submitted to b12. it may have changed by the time the workshop or the performance project is starting. please stay flexible. thank you!
biography
erna ómarsdóttir is an icelandic dancer and choreographer. she graduated from p.a.r.t.s. in brussels in 1998. since then, she has collaborated extensively with choreographers, composers and visual artists such as damien jalet, sidi larbi cherkaoui, björk, jóhann jóhannsson, anna thorvaldsdóttir, sigurrós, gabríela friðriksdóttir, matthew barney, jonas åkerlund and ben frost. erna has created numerous works for leading international dance and theatre institutions, including ballet basel, nagelhus schia productions in oslo, theater am gärtnerplatz in munich, theater freiburg, chunky move in melbourne and iceland dance company. from 2015 to 2025, she served as artistic director of the iceland dance company. her work has been widely acclaimed and awarded. she is a multiple recipient of gríman, the icelandic stage arts award, and in 2019 received a faust award nomination for romeo & juliet, co-created with halla ólafsdóttir. she is also the winner of the norwegian subject prize 2020 for duels, stage production of the year, co-created with damien jalet. for over 25 years, erna has been creating her works, many through the shalala company with her partner valdimar jóhannsson. her artistic practice moves fluidly between dance, performance and staged excess, often incorporating voice, singing, breathing, screaming, cleaning and repetition as choreographic forces, alongside physical commitment combined with elements from visual artistic work with set and costumes.
company info
Shalala
founded in 2008 by choreographer erna ómarsdóttir and musician/artist valdimar jóhannsson, shalala is a reykjavík-based performance group known for its multidisciplinary approach. the company blends contemporary dance, music, visual art and theatrical elements to create works often described as borderline musicals or contemporary vaudeville. many works explore themes of human vulnerability, rituals and dark social commentary. for example, their sacrifice, a festival of common things made holy, examined modern life through sacrificial rituals and even included sessions like cleaning screaming and black yoga screaming cabinet. the founders also operate as a theatrical band called lazyblood, which incorporates high-energy music and extreme performance styles into their concerts. shalala often collaborated with the iceland dance company (idc), where ómarsdóttir served as artistic director until 2025. they also collaborated with international dance companies and artists from all genres, including sigur rós, björk, ben frost, anna þorvaldsdóttir, jóhann jóhannsson, skúli sverrisson, gabríela friðriksdóttir, matthew barney, ragnar kjartansson and jonas akerlund. their latest work the orphic circles and other gossip, with iceland dance company, received the icelandic stage award for the best work of the year 2025, as well as best choreography of 2025. shalala curated the reykjavík dance festival in 2013.
please be aware of our early bird special offer for this workshop! you can apply for this offer up until the 24th of february 2025. after the 24th the regular workshop fee applies. applications are accepted up until one day before the workshops starts.
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