Great Gathering (2017)
by Alexander Roberts and Ásrún Magnúsdóttir

A large group of adults and children dance together with buzz in the ears, stereo of sound and steamy fog. Splashing in puddles with bleeding noses, they live in another world where they are never invisible. Spinning round and round – holding hands – the whole world a blur.

The Great Gathering was a commissioned work for The Iceland Dance Company  and was made specially for Norður og Niður art festival curated by the band Sigur Rós in December 2017. They brought together performances from friends and collaborators from all over the world. 

It has toured different venues in Reykjavík, was happening at the Reykjavík Art Festival in 2018 and at the Reykjavík Children’s Art Festival in 2019. It was translated into a choreography for a music video for Ólafur Arnalds in early 2019.

Watch the video here.

Cast and crew

Conceived and realised by: Alexander Roberts and Ásrún Magnúsdóttir.

Music by: Hermigervill. Gus Gus, Hot Chip, Peaches, Jarvis Cocker, Sigur Rós, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Stars of the Lid and Alexis Taylor. All of these artists were playing at the festival.

Co-authors and performers: Elín Signý Weywadt, Ernesto Camilo Aldazabal Valdes, Halla Þórðardóttir, Hannes Þór Egilsson, Inga Maren Rúnarsdóttir, Sigurður Andrean Sigurgeirsson, Þyri Huld Árnadóttir, Carmen Lea Einarsdóttir, Dagmar Edda Guðnadóttir, Jökull Nói Ívarsson, Kolbeinn Einarsson, Marínó Máni Mabazza, Rafn Winther Ísaksson, Sigríður V. Gunnarsdóttir, Una Yamamoto Barkardóttir, Ylfa Aino Eldon Aradóttir & Þóra Dís Hrólfsdóttir

Duration: 45 minutes

Premiered at Harpa Concert Hall, Reykjavík 29th of December 2017.