Valgerður Rúnarsdóttir ( Vala )  

Valgerður has worked as a dancer, choreographer, artistic director, producer and project manager since 1998, when she graduated with a BA in Contemporary Dance from KHIO/The Oslo National Academy of the Arts. She holds an MA in Performing Arts from the Iceland University of the Arts (2022) and a Master’s degree in Project Management (MPM) from Reykjavik University (2023).

She has extensive international experience, including many years as a dancer with the Iceland Dance Company and a decade with EASTMAN / Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui in Belgium, performing at major venues and festivals worldwide. During her time with EASTMAN she also worked on productions co-created with Damien Jalet. In addition, she has collaborated with Erna Ómarsdóttir on several independent projects, including with her company Shalala, touring widely across Europe. 

As a choreographer and producer, Valgerður has created numerous original works, including The Seasons (Reykjavík City Theatre/IDC 2024), Derringur (a national project with school children 2020/21), Dear Human Being (Tjarnarbíó 2017) and Óraunveruleikir (National Theatre of Iceland 2014). She is a two-time recipient of the Icelandic Performing Arts Award (Gríman, 2011 and 2014) and has received multiple nominations. Her choreographic work also includes theatre productions (Fíasól Never Gives Up, Richard III, Marat/Sade) and feature films (Abbababb, Either Way, Paris of the North).

Alongside her creative work, Valgerður has taught and led numerous workshops at the Iceland University of the Arts, Kramhúsið, the Icelandic Ballet School, and internationally in connection with touring productions. Through her artistic practice, she has engaged deeply in community-based projects aimed at making dance accessible to a wide range of people — from school children and youth to amateurs and senior citizens. She has also participated in Art for All, travelling extensively across Iceland to bring dance to children in all regions of the country. This has provided her with strong experience in youth culture, community engagement and amateur arts practices.

In addition to her creative practice, she has held numerous board positions, including at Tjarnarbíó, Dansverkstæðið, the Icelandic Association of Professional Dancers and the Icelandic Actors’ Union. She was part of the second generation leading Reykjavík Dance Festival and helped shape the festival during her years on the team. She has also worked as project manager, rehearsal director and marketing manager for the Iceland Dance Company, and taken on project management roles for The Performing Arts Center of Iceland, Dansverkstæðið, and will also be joining the upcoming Reykjavík Arts Festival 2026.

Photot: Sunna Ben