Dance in the Land of Milk and Honey [Part 2 of 2. VIDEOS]

By Jennifer Turner, Chief Operating Officer/General Manager

In early December, I joined over one hundred arts professionals representing thirty-five countries assembled in Tel Aviv for the 2012 International Exposure. Learn about my experience by reading Dance in the Land of Milk and Honey [Part 1 of 2]

Videos and info on some of the dance companies I loved are below. Enjoy!

Vertigo Dance Company – Birth of the Phoenix   - The performance takes place under a geodesic dome that explores the relationship between man and the environment. The Vertigo Dance Company established the Vertigo Eco-Art Village in 2007 outside of Jerusalem where the company both lives and works. The intimate connection between the audience and dancers pulls you into performance and holds tight until the dancers are ready to release you out into the night.

Orly Portal Dance Company - Rabia – Rabia was an achingly gorgeous, traditional and haunting piece. The music and costumes were beautiful but I was most taken by the sensuality and expression in even the smallest of movements.

Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company – If At All – Kibbutz has toured the states and I had some familiarity with the company prior to the trip. I loved the energy and strength of the company; this is definitely a company to watch for in the future.

Renana Raz – YouMake, ReMake – stage your response – This piece was so creative and fresh. The audience views a YouTube video either before or after a performance or a “reaction” to the video. Renana constantly creates new works and collaborates internationally to develop local pieces. My favorite piece began with this video and ended with this. The dancers in between tied these videos together in an unexpected emotional and visceral performance.

 Niv Sheinfeld & Oren Laor – Two Room Apartment – A lot of the dance I saw at the Exposure focused on defining space or existing within borders. This piece began with the physical marking of the space and worked up to the relationship of the two people in inhabiting that space. The piece, created by Liat Dror and Nir Ben Gal originally premiered in 1987. It is a subtle piece that slowly pulls you in stays long after it ends. 

Also check out:

Dafi Dance Group – Sensitivity to Heat

Odelya Kuperberg Dance – We haven’t seen blood. Yet

Eldad Ben Sasson – Strange Attractor

Talia Paz presenting Nigel Charnock – Haunted by the Future

Rotem Tashach – Paved Life

Inbal Pinto and Avshalon Pollak Dance Company – Gold Fish

Thank you to the Suzanne Dellah Center, Consulate of Israel, Midwest, The Ministry of Culture and Sport, & Consulate of Israel, New York. 

Dance in the Land of Milk and Honey [Part 1 of 2]

By Jennifer Turner, Chief Operating Officer/General Manager

In early December, I joined over one hundred arts professionals representing thirty-five countries assembled in Tel Aviv for the 2012 International Exposure. Over six days, we were able to see thirty-nine local dance pieces presented primarily at the Suzanne Dellah Center. Other venues included the funky Tmuna Theatre in Tel Aviv, the Yasmeen Godder Studio in Jaffa and Hangar Adama, once a deserted industrial hanger deep in the Negev Desert and now transformed into a harmonious dance center.

Tel Aviv overlooking Jaffa

The Suzanne Dellah Center, home to Batsheva Dance Companies, the Inbal Onto and Avshalom Pollak Dance Company and the Oran Porat Theatre for Children & Youth is located in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood of Tel Aviv. Neve Tzedek reminded me a bit of the Gold Coast in Chicago. Cute boutiques, restaurants, residential, many baby strollers and the beautiful Suzanne Dellah campus. The center has three performance halls (Suzanne Dellah Hall, Yershalmy Hall & Inbal Hall), studios, outdoor performance space, fountains, orange trees, restaurants and ice shops. There is a main square and a small plaza with benches and trees that attracts people (and pets!) day and night. The Center’s Director, Yair Vardi is a former Batsheva dancer and remembers performing at the Auditorium Theatre with the company in 1972.

I was pleased by the quality and depth of Israeli dance. We saw some amazing performances and the Exposure was a wonderful opportunity to spend time with the dancers, choreographers and artistic directors. Most of the artists attended the attendee receptions and went to their colleague’s performances. They were excited to meet so many arts professionals from all over the world and happy to spend time discussing their work. The dance community is very small but they seem supportive of each other. Dance in Israel receives funding from the government as well as local funding from the city. Companies must be established for two years and perform a minimum number of public performances to be eligible for funding. Many of the companies work out of Tel Aviv but some base in Jerusalem or opt to open centers in more rural areas. Since the country is so small (about the size of New Jersey), touring opportunities within Israel is more limited and companies are focused on international exposure.    

Check back next week for information about the dance companies that I saw during my trip, including links to their websites and videos! See a few more photos from the trip below.

Tmuna Theatre

Hangar Adama

Mitzpe Ramon