Magical transformations are the essence of fairy tales such as Beauty and the Beast, the Israel Ballet’s new production. The company itself is experiencing a transformation, and while these changes rely primarily on hard work and determination, a visit to the rehearsal studio certainly gave me the feeling that there is magic in the air.
“It is important to me to change something in the energy and experience of being a part of the company,” said Ido Tadmor, the company’s new artistic director, and expressed his wish that the Israel Ballet become a hub for people who care about the arts and culture. Looking outward and connecting with the arts, the company has had several collaborations. Most surprising perhaps is the collaboration with the Israeli rock band HaYehudim, presenting an evening of dance set to the band’s album HaYamim Shelanu (Our Days), with choreography by Israeli choreographers who have made their mark in contemporary dance, such as Yoram Karmi, Sahar Azimi, Yoni Southy, and Ido Tadmor.
Opening the doors to modern and contemporary dance is a significant departure for a company dedicated to classical and neo-classical ballet. Tadmor however, said that he feels that the introduction of modern and contemporary dance, both in terms of working with contemporary choreographers and in the dancers’ practice, can be supportive of classical ballet, connecting the company to new audiences and enhancing the dancers’ abilities.
Tradition can be lovely, and Beauty and the Beast captures the romance and magic of the ballet. The Northern Ballet production, performed to a musical collage of Saint-Säens, Bizet, and Debussy, garnered much acclaim for the tale of a vain prince cursed to live as a beast unless he is redeemed by the power of true love. Choreographer and artistic director of the Northern Ballet David Nixon has been in Israel to set the ballet on the Israeli dancers. The Israeli production is made possible in part through Nixon’s gracious consent to forgo the original lavish set design for the ballet, saving the high cost of transportation. Thus began a new creative process here in Tel Aviv with the dancers and team of the Israel Ballet, and designer Sasha Lishansky who has created the sets for the Israeli production.
While I have yet to see the new set design, watching the dancers in the studio, there is a sense of joy as they bring the fairy tale to life through dance.
Performances:
27.11 at 17:30 – Wicks Hall, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot
28.11 at 16:00 – Ashdod Performing Arts Center
29.11 at 12:00 and 14:30 – Haifa Auditorium
30.11 at 11:00 and 16:00 – Gan Shmuel
1.12 at 15:30 and 18:00 – Petach Tikvah Performing Arts Center
2.12 at 15:30 and 18:00 – Sherover Theatre, Jerusalem
3.12 at 16:00 and 18:30 – Tel Aviv Performing Arts Centre, Israeli Opera
4.12 at 11:00, 16:00 and 18:30 – Tel Aviv Performing Arts Centre, Israeli Opera
5.12 at 11:00 – Tel Aviv Performing Arts Centre, Israeli Opera
16.12 at 18:00 – Eilat Theatre
17.12 at 18:00 – Eilat Theatre
28.12 at 12:00 – Nes Ziona Heichal Hatarbut
29.12 at 17:30 – Modi’in Heichal Hatarbut
Tickets are 199 NIS and may be ordered online on the Israel Ballet website
