Dancers from Iceland Dance Company performs on stage. 

Probably the farthermost European country from China, Iceland is best known to most Chinese as the home of pop star Bjork and a land where we see the magnificent Northern lights. But beyond that, Iceland has also cultivated a unique artistic form of its own. The Iceland Dance Company made its Beijing debut on Sunday night with two award-winning pieces on the universal theme of love.

In Luna, a group of young people dance the waltz of life under the light of the moon to celebrate their youthful dreams and passions. Images of love, longing, hope and joy are orchestrated into a dreamlike serenade. Luna premiered at the City Theatre in Reykjavik, one of Europe's top dance theatres, and went on to claim the 2004 Icelandic Dance Award.

And though it's rather early to be saying "Happy New Year", the Icelandic dancers have a wry take on the traditional New Year's greeting.

ASA Richardsdottir from Iceland Dance Company said, "Luna is a light-hearted piece about the relationship between man and woman. While Happy New Year is completely different. It has an ironic twist in the title. It talks about the lack of communication between people. There you will see a lot of powerful dancing."

The company has worked with Europe's leading choreographers and nurtured its own Icelandic artists. The fourteen dancers all share a background of classical training but have retained a pronounced individuality.

The Iceland Dance Company is the first troupe to come to Beijing after the China and Iceland signed an agreement to promote cultural exchange between the two countries last March. Beijing is the last stop of the company's China tour which also included the Guangdong Modern Dance Festival and a debut appearance in Shanghai.

(CRI.cn May 9, 2007)