Open Class Today – the Swimming Ballet Eilífðin Gives the Year its Grand Finale

The Swimming Ballet Eilífðin at Our Town Pool

Graceful movements, soft and flowing, and perhaps even a few slightly clumsy ones, will take center stage when the swimming ballet Eternity comes to Suðurbæjarlaug today at 6 pm. Sisters Margrét Erla Maack and Vigdís Perla will lead this open session. Everyone is welcome. Margrét spoke about the sisters’ initiative in the Hafnarfjörður municipal Christmas magazine.

“People take part in this, it’s not a performance,” says Margrét Erla as she recounts how the sisters founded the swimming ballet. “My sister and I were in Barcelona with our mum, and when mum is in sunny places she’s a total beach bum. We sisters need an outlet,” Margrét Erla explains.

“We were staying at a mid-range hotel. There was no gym and it was far too hot to go out walking or running. So we started playing around in the pool, throwing each other into the air. And we weren’t kids — I was 33 and my sister 24,” she says.

“We bought matching swimsuits and created routines. The kids at the hotel started joining in, and then adults too. People began asking: when is the next show? The swimming ballet was a huge hit.” Vigdís’s boyfriend later welcomed the sisters and their mother at Keflavík Airport holding a sign that read: The Swimming Ballet Eternity.

During Covid, the swimming ballet turned into work. “Everything I usually do was banned, but the swimming pools were open. Dad asked: shouldn’t you apply for a grant for the swimming ballet? So we did.” That’s when the project truly took off.

Margrét points out that swimming pools have become one of the few places left without constant phone distractions. “We can all let go,” she says, encouraging everyone who can to come along.

“This is an incredibly good full-body workout, even though we focus on silliness. It suits people with all kinds of issues because the water helps so much — it supports you and provides honest resistance,” she explains.

“We also play good music, create routines and do games that challenge spatial awareness and balance.” Margrét Erla adds that she doesn’t follow traditional Christmas customs, and family members have surprised one another with unusual dishes over the years.

“For a long time, Christmas has been about hiding food in the neighbours’ freezer so no one knows what will be served for Christmas dinner. That’s our tradition.”

Christmas Swimming Ballet – Open Session
Tuesday, 30 December at 6 pm
Sundhöll Hafnarfjarðar