The Journey of the Phoenix – a dance-theatre work in progress

The Journey of the Phoenix – on the art of dying and being reborn

A dance-theatre work in progress, with a premiere planned for spring 2011. The myth of the Phoenix – its transformation in the fire, where it burns up and then rises from the ashes and takes flight again – is the theme of the piece. A dancer, an actor and a singer share the stage to lead the audience into the fire and give them a chance to reflect their own experience in this universal myth about the art of dying and being reborn.

How do we deal with hard experiences that shake our existence and bring darkness and pain? How do we let go, allow part of ourselves to die, and yet carry on and be reborn? This is the eternal challenge of human life.

Joseph Campbell, one of the world’s foremost mythologists, said that myths are like dreams that humanity dreams together – dreams that help us understand the world and our place in it.

“Myth is the secret opening through which the inexhaustible energies of the cosmos pour into human manifestation.” (Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces)

In this project we follow that thread and explore the ancient myth of the Phoenix’s journey and the sacrifice that rebirth demands. A group of artists is creating the production: María, Eivør, Reijo and set designer Snorri Freyr Hilmarsson, all of whom formed strong bonds while creating Úlfhamssaga. Costume designer Filippía I. Elísdóttir joins the group, as does Björn Bergsteinn Guðmundsson, who is designing the lighting.

The artists are all known for work that shows strong ties to both their heritage and the present. Together they want to create a piece built on a powerful myth while letting different art forms meet and the boundaries between them dissolve. Through the story of the Phoenix’s journey, they want to dive deep into shared human experience and interpret it in their own personal way through their cultures, art forms and experience.