Iceland review - 2016, Blaðsíða 70

68 ICELAND REVIEW
I’ve been abroad for so long that it’s hard for Icelanders
to understand and know what I’ve been doing. It’s a
wonderful experience to come to this exceptionally
beautiful building with the San Francisco Ballet and to
have them perform with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra.
This way, I can show people in Iceland: this is what I do;
this is how I do it,” says Helgi Tómasson, artistic director
of the San Francisco Ballet, of the group’s performance at
Harpa concert hall in Reykjavík at the end of May, as part
of the 2016 Reykjavík Arts Festival.
BRINGING THE BALLET TO THE TOP
Helgi is one of Iceland’s favorite sons. He leapt to fame
in 1969 when he captured silver at the Moscow Ballet
Competition, coming second to only Mikhail Baryshnikov;
widely recognized as one of the greatest ballet dancers
in history. From there, he went on to join the New York
PORTRAIT OF HELGI TÓMASSON BY PÁLL STEFÁNSSON.
OTHER PHOTOS COPYRIGHT ERIK TOMASSON.
DEDICATED TO DANCE
One of Iceland’s favorite sons, Helgi Tómasson has been artistic
director of the San Francisco Ballet for over 30 years. In May he
brought the ballet to perform at the Reykjavík Arts Festival.
Helgi speaks with Vala Hafstað about how he transformed the
ballet into a world-class outfit and what it takes
to kindle young people’s interest in ballet.