“We've been working very closely with the Euroband from day one and have put 150% effort and dedication into planning the future concerning the contest. Then all of a sudden on Friday night we get a phone call telling us that it was over.” says one of the dancers Birna Blomsterberg.
The four dancers that have been a part of the Euroband stage performance were last Friday night told that their presence was no longer wanted, nor needed, when This is my life will be performed in Belgrade in May. The girls are all but happy about the decision.
"Can't handle the song"
"I alsofind it extremely weird that Paul Oscar made this announcement", says dancer Sigrún. She finds these methods of the Euroband unprofessional and inhuman. "He's a man that we've not even met during the whole preparation and all of sudden he's the one in charge!" She says that Paul told her that the reason for the decision was that Regína Ósk and Friðrik Ómar did not feel they had perfect vocal control over the song and would therefore need the assistance of backing vocals rather than dancers. "There's no way that this has anything to do with our overall performance. We're good dancers and have done a great job. It's also my believe that the Icelandic nation voted for the stage performance and the song – not one without the other." says Sigrún and states that she believes that the overall performance will suffer without dancers.
Total revamp of the stage performance
"Örlygur Smári and I are in charge of the stage performance. RÚV hires us to do so and we're doing this the way we want to do it. We're changing the entire stage performance and are replanning it from scratch. Part of that was to replace the dancers with backing vocals." says Paul Oscar.
"If anyone is to blame for this decision then it's me. I completely understandthe dancers dissappointment, but I chose to think of what benefits the song. I realize that this decision will not go well with the public, but I can promise you that the stage performance will be much, much better than it was. When it comes to creating a good 'show' – you wont find anyone better than me."
The people involved had a chance to have a meeting on Sunday, one which lead dancer Sigrún says was of little use. "We were able to clear some of the tension but apart from that the meeting was of no use. This is not over", Paul Oscar on the other hand states that the case is closed from Euroband's part and they will not be discussing it further.
