Ð festival: Iceland University of the Arts contemporary dance students graduation tour
Sõltumatu Tantsu Lava (STL), Tallinn
Ð festival is a graduation tour by the contemporary dance students (BA) at the Iceland University of the Arts. The course is international and every year the festival travels through the graduating students’ hometowns. This way, the dance artists can create a dialogue with the local audience, showing what is important to them in contemporary dance today and get their first experience of touring.
In 2025, the festival will travel to Oslo, Helsinki and Tallinn. Ð festival takes place in Tallinn on the 30th and 31st of October showcasing 10 graduating performances (different works on both days).
The festival took place for the first time in 2024, when it performed in Tallinn, Lohja, Tampere and Karlskrona.
30th of October
Torfi Tómasson (IS) “DÍVUR”
DÍVUR is a superficial dance piece about superficial pop stars. The divas are transcendent and untouchable. Imagination brings them to life, but reality keeps them alive.
Performed in Iceland and co-created by Torfi Tómasson, Bjartey Elín Hauksdóttir, and Sóley Ólafsdóttir. Performed at the Ð festival by Torfi Tómasson, Bertine Bertelsen Fadnes, and Elsa Kamøy Furuseth.
Mentored by Brian Gerke.
Music by Torfi Tómasson.
Special thanks to Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Rósa Ómarsdóttir, Karin Jameson, Egill Ingibergsson, María Jóngerð Gunnlaugsdóttir, Sunna Ben Rakel Tómasdóttir, Juulius Vaiksoo and Cristina Agueda.
Length: 30 min
Mari Ann Valkna (EE) “MAKES ME WANT TO OUTRUN MYSELF”
Makes me want to be kind, look at Mari and tell her things take time, and yet makes me want to outrun myself.
Thank you Brian Douglas Gerke, Egill Ingibergsson and Valdimar Johannsson
Length: 25min
Jaakko Juhani Fagerberg (FI) “Okay to Great”
Constant self-monitoring and ideas of continuous improvement and development, combined with thoughts from romanticism, can certainly make a difference of some sort.
Thank you, all my dear friends, dear Bára Ying Halldórsdóttir, Eero Pääkkönen, Äiti, Bertine Fadnes & Leevi Mettinen, Rósa Ómarsdóttir for mentoring, David Choe.
Length: 20-25 min
Elida Angvik Hovdar (NO) “Sucky Title”
No, no, no… It’s such a bad piece. I don’t want to do it!! It’s too bad. Can I not???? The process was HORRIBLE, and the piece will be no better. PLEASE don’t come to my show!!!
Thank you, Rósa Ómarsdóttir, María Jóngerd, Stefán Nordal, Hanna Balsnes, and my wonderful class.
Length: approx. 20 min
María Kristín Jóhannsdóttir (IS) “even a brick wants to be something”
even a brick wants to be something, explores the desire to make anything mean something, relying on alternative tools from narrativity.
Almost everything is made up,
Almost everything is made up.
Even a brick wants to be something,
a brick wants to be something.
Originally performed and created by María Kristín Jóhannsdóttir, Inga María Olsen, Mari Ann Valkna & Gylfi Freeland Sigurðsson. Drums composed and performed by Gylfi Freeland Sigurðsson.
At the Ð festival performed by María Kristín Jóhannsdóttir and Mari Ann Valkna.
Length: 25 min
31st of October
Elsa Kamøy Furuseth (NO) “Bitch Nation.”
Bitches bitching and locks locking.
Thank you to my good friends and performers Bertine Bertelsen Fadnes and Rebekka Guðmundsdottir, and my mentor Brian Douglas Gerke.
Length: approx. 30 min
Andrea María Ólafsdóttir (IS) “SYSTEMICS”
Born into an unknown world where movement is the primal language, three beings emerge, bound by an invisible force – separate yet connected. They exist in a cycle of becoming – individuals and unity – questioning whether movement is an expression of agency or a function of a larger system. Movement is not a choice but a programmed response – operate within an inherent system of motion, learning through the body until movement becomes natural. As they navigate the space, their tangled bodies dissolve and reform, mirroring the constant patterns of nature and technology.
Thanks to my co-creators and original dancers Ása María Sigrúnardóttir, Íris Ásmundar, and Rebekka Guðmundsdóttir. Takk Gabríel Ólafs for your beautiful music and Sveinbjörg María Ingibjargardóttir for costume design. Thank you, Brian Douglas Gerke, for mentorship.
Length: 20 min
Bertine Bertelsen Fadnes (NO) “DIE TRYING”
We just finished. Lying on the floor. Trying to remember what we just did. Getting ready to do it again. Is it the first time? Lying down again. Just a faint linger of a past. And why is a song the only thing we can remember? We don’t know where we are going, but we know we can’t wait.
Performed by and created with Elida Angvik Hovdar, Elsa Kamøy Furuseth, Jaakko Fagerberg, María Kristín Jóhannsdóttir, and Leevi Mettinen.
Music by Eira Norang-Ekre
Length: 35min
Rebekka Guðmundsdóttir (IS) “5-minute meditation for mindfulness”
5-minute meditation for mindfulness is, in fact, not 5 minutes. It is, in fact, not a meditation, and Rebekka does not feel very mindful.
Thanks to the great coworkers of this piece – Inga María Olsen and Sóley Ólafsdóttir. Sigþór Bjarmi Geirsson for music and Brian Douglas Gerke for mentorship
Length: 20 min
Leevi Mettinen (FI) “zero tolerance”
zero tolerance is traveling through order and frustration, restriction takes new shapes, and kindness is long gone.
Created and performed together with Bertine Fadnes & Jaakko Fagerberg. Thank you, Rósa Ómarsdóttir, for mentoring and commenting on the work in progress. Same goes to Katrín Gunnarsdóttir.
Length: 20 min
Sõltumatu Tantsu Lava (STL) • Telliskivi 60a/9, 10412 Tallinn, Harjumaa, Estonia
