To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the Choreographers Association is hosting a four-day program of performances, lectures and debates.
Ten years ago, four independent choreographers met to discuss the hardships they were experiencing along their respective paths. The people in that room were Noa Dar, Nimrod Freed, Anat Danieli and Arie Bornstein. Each was struggling to establish a good foundation from which to create dance. Each felt frustrated with the hurdles they had to leap over. They recognized the need to get organized, to join forces in order to promote and protect one another. Thus was born the Choreographers Association.
Today there are more than 60 members of the organization and about two dozen choreographers in the process of applying.
Next week, the association will officially celebrate its tenth anniversary with four days of unique events. In performances, lectures and debates, the directors, members and distinguished guests of the union will take a look back at the past decade of creation and will look ahead into the future of Israeli dance.
The past 10 years have been largely influenced by the works of independent choreographers. In Israel and abroad, fringe has taken over the main stage, bringing more experimental dance onto the scene and into the spotlight. Israel has been particularly rife with such action. Although Tel Aviv is home to the Batsheva Dance Company, one of the world’s largest and most successful dance ensembles, it has also been a base for a host of exceedingly talented young creators. In festivals around the world, Israeli choreographers have developed and maintained a strong presence as envelopepushers.
In the eyes of the Choreographers Association, the new decade will be a time of coproductions. Be it local or international, unifying both resources and skills seems to be the only way to generate new work and present it to relatively large and diverse audiences. To expand upon this notion, the association has invited several international players to the anniversary party. These individuals hail from Belgium, Norway, England and Poland and are embedded in the international dance community in their own way.
Kicking off the festival will be a gala party at the Tmuna Theater in Tel Aviv. The following day, the association will host a “taster’s menu” of their members’ works at the Suzanne Dellal Center, specifically geared towards local dance presenters and organizers.
Then, on Tuesday, two relevant forums will take place. One will focus on the importance of coproductions to independent choreographers and will feature Austrian curator Bettina Kogler, Barbara Reis from Belgium, Dina Eldor, CEO of the Batsheva Dance Company, and Nimrod Freed.
The second forum focuses on Israeli dance with respect to the current political situation. This meeting will be led by Florian Malzacher from Austria, John Raspadel from Norway, Noa Dar, Gabi Eldor, head of the Choreographers Association among others.
Finally, on Thursday, the association invites dance lovers to an evening of outdoor performances at the Tel Aviv Port. For three hours, more than 20 choreographers will present their newest works in unusual locations set on the water. Entrance to this event is free.
For more information about the anniversary celebration, visit www.choreographers.co.il.
