Department of Performing Arts

The Department of Performing Arts at the Iceland University of the Arts places great emphasis on creative thinking and technical and theoretical skills within the performing arts. By intertwining art and theory, we encourage our students to experiment, innovate and take a critical approach.

The department's main goal is to support students in developing and deepening their artistic skills; combining craft, critical thinking and scholarship with the best of contemporary performing arts. Our students graduate prepared to shape the performing arts of the future. Graduates of the Department of Performing Arts play a leading role within the national and international performing arts scene, as well as in many other fields; from performers to academics, artistic directors, producers and authors.

Performances and events are an important part of studies in the Department of Performing Arts. These include open presentations at the end of courses and cooperation between different study programs, as well as individual projects and the final projects of all the department's programmes. Performances can take the form of traditional theatre, playreadings, performance art, dance performances, site-specific performances, radio dramas, participatory theatre, etc. In addition, seminars and symposiums are regularly held on the performing arts profession.

International cooperation is a large part of the department's work, and students have the opportunity to go on exchange and/or internships abroad. Exchange students and teachers from international education institutions are frequent guests at the university and the department is involved in various international projects.

The Department of Performing Arts regularly collaborates with all the main performing arts institutions and festivals in Iceland such as the National Theatre of Iceland, the Reykjavik City Theatre, the Akureyri Theatre Company, Iceland Dance Company, Reykjavík Dance Festival and has good relations with the independent performing arts scene.

The Department of Performing Arts offers four study programs: acting, international contemporary dance, playwrighting, and a master's degree in performing arts. The bachelor's degree is a three-year program, 180 ECTS credits, while the master's degree is a two-year program, 120 ECTS credits. There is an entrance exam for all study programs in the department. Every third year, no new students are admitted to the Department of Performing Arts at the BA level.

Course Catalog

Programmes

Contemporary Dance Practices BA

Acting studies BA

Theatre & Performance Making BA

MA in Performing Arts

Upcoming events in the Performing Arts department

24January 7Feb

MA in Performing Arts Graduation work 2025

This year, six studying artists are graduating from the MA program in Performing Arts. Come celebrate with us for this year's 2025 graduation festival.

5of 8of

Posi posi posi ehf

The work is the result of a six-week course in co-creative theatre. The supervisor/director, assistant directors and third-year acting students worked together. // The piece is a result of a six week...

17Nov

LET'S PUT CULTURE ON THE AGENDA

The Confederation of Icelandic Artists and the Iceland Academy of the Arts are inviting a panel discussion on arts and culture, where attendees will have the opportunity to talk with the candidates about their policies in the field.

15Nov

Artist talk with Sonya Lindfors

Artist talk with Sonya Lindfors Working with f(r)icions – conversation on decolonial, intersectional and speculative practices

23oktober

"Algjör" Brewing // Unnur Guðrún Þórarinsdóttir

Play reading of a script in progress from the course The Author. Where should we eat, you want to come in who is the man, the coffee is too strong. Is this my perfect man?

16oktober

Master's student at the Music and Performing Arts Department of the Iceland Academy of the Arts in Hólum in Hjaltadal

First-year master's students from the music and performing arts departments of LHÍ spent one week at Hólum in Hjaltadal last September. There…

22oktober

Moonlight – collective reading // Ísak Hinriksson

Under the open sky in the middle of the night, four friends look up at the sky and try to understand their smallness and size.

23oktober 24oktober

BETWEEN US // Alona Perepelytsia

BETWEEN US is a dance work created by four female performers from different countries through discussing their connections with other people, things, feelings and each other. There is always something…

23oktober

Húdonnit by Halldór Ívar Stefánsson – Play

We all love reunions, let alone elementary school reunions. 10 years after the graduation of the 98th year of the Elementary School in Raufarhöfn, an old group of friends met in a house. They bring back old memories, good as well…

15oktober

Presentation of the design competition Everyone with and LHÍ

Everyone with materials for a competition about markings on a covered trailer, in collaboration with the Iceland University of the Arts.