BIGGER THAN US ALL - Reykjavík Dance Festival. August 2014.
Curated by Alexander Roberts and Ásgerður G. Gunnarsdóttir

Founded by artists in 2002, Reykjavík Dance Festival marked more than the birth of a festival – it marked the birth of a community and the beginning of a scene that placed dancing and choreography at its centre. A community that has, over the last 12 years, continued to grow and transform with RDF at its heart. A scene within which all those that participate, collectively push in search of other ways of doing, thinking, seeing, hearing, speaking, making and participating.

The context however, within which this community and scene endures, has radically altered. Where RDF was once dancing alone as an independent organisation in Iceland, today it is one organisation among a growing archipelago of exceptional brother and sister organisations – all with a stake in building a community around dancing and choreography. As such just as the ecology has evolved – RDF is set to change also. And its set to change in a big way. Now, alongside the pre-established August festival – Reykjavík Dance Festival will spread its activities throughout the year – presenting additional small, concise and curatorially specific programmes of both domestic and international artists in November, February and May. In doing so, it is hoped, that RDF can provide a pulse around which this ever–growing community can congregate throughout the year.This new era – begins now. Running from 23rd – 30th August, the first edition of this new format is already upon us. We start by giving those artists that have been cut from the RDF cloth over the last 12 years the first words. Resisting the temptation to reduce the conversation down to a selection of artists whose aesthetic concerns align, we instead opt for contradiction and complexity. And invite those artists that have been the fabric of RDF, across the last 12 years, to stage their most current and pressing work alongside one another. A smaller number of additional artists from Iceland have also been invited to participate, as the festival keeps an eye not only on the community as it has been, but on the scene as it might be in the future. As well as a day–time programme of radio–broadcasted lectures, workshops, forums and parties – RDF will present no less than 12 new works by Icelandic choreographers over the course of these four days. In this – there will be – we hope – a lot of risk, a lot at stake, as well as a healthy dose of both enchantment and failure to grapple with. And we invite you with us – to use this mighty concoction to build something bigger than us all.

Participating Artists:

Amanda Apetrea

Ásrún Magnúsdóttir

Ásgeir Helgi Magnússon

Choreography Reykjavík

Erna Ómarsdóttir

Halla Ólafsdóttir

Inga Huld Hákonardóttir

Inga Maren Rúnarsdóttir

Katrín Gunnarsdóttir

Margrét Sara Guðjónsdóttir

Margrét Bjarnadóttir

Örn Alexander Ámundason

Ragnheiður Maisól Sturludóttir

Rósa Ómarsdóttir

Steinunn Ketilsdóttir

Saga Sigurðardóttir

Sveinjörg Þórhallsdóttir

Valdimar Jóhannsson

Events took place at Tjarnarbío, Mengi, the Reykjavík Dance Atelier, the National Broadcasting House, Gamla Bío, the Reykjavík City Theatre, the National Theatre of Iceland, the Reykjavík Art Museum, and the Iceland University of the Arts.

The events were supported by Reykjavík City, the Nordisk Kulturfond, Kulturkontakt Nord and the Iceland Ministry of Culture and Education.