The Diplomats – Renana Raz
Dance, politics and history have a lot in common: one’s position in relation to space and time is crucial to all three disciplines, as The Diplomats, a new dance work choreographed by Renana Raz, demonstrates with humor, wit and an excellent performance by the ensemble of dancers. Raz, a choreographer whose intellectual and creative curiosity has led her to explore a wide range of subjects and mediums, including puppets, Jewish mysticism, folkdances and YouTube, has taken national anthems as her point of departure for this piece.
Raz endeavored to extract the anthems from their national geo-political context, taking her inspiration for movement from the music itself and the responses it inspired. To this aim, one decision made early on was not to work with the Israeli anthem. As an Israeli, Raz felt that she would not be capable of detaching herself from the world of associations and emotional connection it summons. The anthems making up the soundtrack of The Diplomats are those of: Denmark, Turkey, Malaysia, Cameroom, Iran (1896 – 1933), Chechnya, Mauritania, Brazil, Aruba, Libya, The Russian Empire, Sami People (a nation of people in Lapland – North Finland), Japan and Malta. Costumes designed by Inbal Lieblich convey a sporty casual feel with a mix of bright primary colors reminiscent of flags.
The movement is expressive, elegant, playful and menacing by turns. There is an exhilarating energy to this work; the six dancers are onstage throughout, always aware and responsive to one another. Raz connects the playground to political arena referencing childrens’ games. In one sequence the game of green light/red light plays out with a group advancing behind a dancers’ back, gaining ground gleefully then instantly freezing into elaborate poses when she turns. There are several variations on the relationship of the individual to the group; as opposing, or attracting forces. A scene that began as a confrontation between a male dancer facing an oncoming group, changed its tone when his sideways evasive movements were imitated by the group, then turned into a lively unison folkdance performed by the entire ensemble with their backs to the audience. Conveying the close relationship between music, dance and the power of culture as a symbol of political power, the scene was funny, delightful and charged with impact.
Most of the soundtrack was instrumental, but some of the anthems were heard as sung. One stand out was the clearly articulated “Allah Akbar” that had audience members murmuring and wondering about the country of origin, while the movement onstage included a chorus of raised fists, a conga line and one dancer’s cheeky limbo under the outstretched arms of the ensemble.
Wonderland – Barak Marshall
I doubt that crossing Acheron has ever been depicted in as amusing a manner as in Barak Marshall’s Wonderland, a new dance work that regales the audience with the travails of ten lost souls searching for love and compassion.
A theatrical dance composed of a series of vignettes, each with a self-contained narrative, all working together to create a certain ambiance, a sense of the beauty and absurdity in death, as in life. Working with a talented ensemble of dancers in wonderfully evocative period costumes designed by Maor Zabar (Maor – make me a dress!), Marshall presents a work that is at once abstract and yet grounded in detail, replete with associations.
Wonderland’s suffering, lonely, yet feisty characters are endearing as they wander through death and disappointment to an energetic and upbeat Balkan soundtrack. Marshall’s choreography resonates with the rhythms and gestures of traditional dance, transformed into energetic, contemporary movement that burns up the floor.
The Diplomats and Wonderland form a joint evening featuring premieres by Renana Raz and Barak Marshall.
Renana Raz – The Diplomats
Music: National anthems of Denmark, Turkey, Malaysia, Cameroom, Iran (1896 – 1933), Chechnya, Mauritania, Brazil, Aruba, Libya, The Russian Empire, Sami People (a nation of people in Lapland – North Finland), Japan and Malta; Soundtrack Design: Or Moran; Dancers: Nir Benita, Avi Mazliah, Inbar Nemirovsky, Rita Komissarchik, Dor Raby, Adar Riklis; Costume Design: Inbal Leiblich; Lighting Design: Yaacov Baressi.
Barak Marshall – Wonderland
Text, Soundtrack and Set Design: Barak Marshall; Voice Design: Yuri Politi; Music: Blehorkestar Bkija Bakic from Vranje, Jascha Heifetz, Kocani Orkestar, Fanfare Ciocarlia, The Barry Sisters, Fritz Kreisler, Anatol Stefanet, Balkan Beat Box; Dancers: Nir Benita, Yoav Grinberg, Tom Weinberger, Efrat Levi, Avi Mazliah, Inbar Nemirovsky, Rita Komissarchik, Dor Raby, Adar Riklis, Shiran Sharabi; Costume Design: Maor Tsabar; Lighting Design: Yaacov Baressi.
Future performances: January 14 & 15, 2012; February 3, 2012; March 23, 2012 at the Suzanne Dellal Centre. Tickets may be ordered online, or call: 03-5105656.
