- Dancers Navarra Novy-Williams and Noa Paran/Photo: Tamar Paz
Batsheva Dancers Create is one of Midnight East’s favorite traditions, ever changing, ever mesmerizing with its wild creativity and explosive energy. In their own words: “16 monsters get together for 70 minutes to dance, stage and produce an evening that is personal and provocative.” It all happens May 20 – 22 in the Varda Studio of the Suzanne Dellal Centre in Tel Aviv.The project is entirely created by the dancers, who not only choreograph and perform, but also manage all aspects of the production from artistic direction to lights, costumes, marketing and publicity. Chimera is produced by Almog Ben Horin and Tamar Grostz, dancers in the Batsheva Ensemble, and Danielle Agami, a dancer in the Batsheva Dance Company is the artistic director.
The evening will consist of 13 short works created by dancers of the Batsheva Ensemble: Gon Biran, Avidan Ben Giat, Almog Ben Horin, Tamar Grostz, Chen-Wei Lee, Nitsan Margaliot, Navarra Novy Williams, Stav Struz, Maya Paran, Noa Paran, Shamel Pitts, Christopher Peterson and Uri Shafir. All will perform, although not necessarily in their own works, and will be joined by Rebecca Hytting, Ori Moshe Ofri and former Ensemble dancer Rebecca Sheinberg.
Tamar Grostz said of the project: “Now more than ever, I feel that we have had the time and place to work on a project that had the time to grow through a process. Even though it is just a beginning, we feel that the works are more developed. It is a privilege to work with such good dancers in a spirit of collaboration, dedication and sincerity.”
The dancers of the Batsheva Ensemble work indefatigably year-round, both in the studio and in over 150 performances throughout the country. “The intensity of the joint work creates deep and complex relationships between the dancers, a family feeling, loyalty and commitment that brings our joint creative work to a mature and intimate place. This leads to the creation of personal, honest and sensitive works,” says Danielle Agami.
The Batsheva Dancers Create project is supported by the Michael Sela Fund for the Cultivation of Young Artists at Batsheva. In 2004, in honor of Prof. Michael Sela’s 80th birthday, the Batsheva Management, Sara and Michael Sela decided to create a fund that would ensure the continuity of Batsheva activities in the development of its young artists. The fund was created with the support of the Sela family, the Rich Foundation and additional donors, and has supported the performance of over 100 works.
Performances will take place: May 20 at 21:00, May 21 at 22:00 and May 22 at 19:00 and 21:00 in the Varda Studio at Suzanne Dellal. Tickets are 55 NIS and may be purchased online: www.batsheva.co.il and at the box office: 03-5104037.
