International Exposure 2008: Day 1
(Video: Batsheva Dance Company in Sharon Eyal’s Makarova Kabisa)
Tonight, International Exposure 2008 – a showcase of the year’s new creations by Israeli choreographers – will open at the Suzanne Dellal Center. With performances by the Tararam Group as well as two works by Sharon Eyal, I suspect that the evening will start with a bang in the literal and figurative sense (that’s good, in case you’re not familiar with the English turn of phrase).
“Tararam” translates to “hubbub,” and from the description on the group’s website, I’m expecting something in the same vein as Stomp. Then Talia Paz will perform Eyal’s One Leg Barbie before the Batsheva Dance Company takes the stage in Eyal’s Makarova Kabisa, which mixes ballet and African-influenced movements to throbbing beats spun by a live DJ.
(Video: Tararam in their “Extravaganza” show)
Besides seeing these works, I’m really looking forward to meeting all of the other attendees at the opening reception tonight. The final guest list includes an array of presenters, journalists, and officials from Israeli consulates abroad. Guests are coming from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, France, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, and Uzbekistan. Especially after immersing myself in the dance scene here for an entire year, I wonder how fresh eyes will take in this feast of dance and hope to have some thought-provoking conversations about Israeli contemporary dance with my fellow attendees.
Hopefully the performances tonight will get our energy up – we’ll have five more days packed with dance watching!
Related Articles on Dance In Israel
- “Mamootot: Challenging the Performer-Spectator Divide” (re: Batsheva)
- “Getting to Know the Batsheva Ensemble”
- “Hofesh Shechter & Talia Paz: Israelis abroad, Israelis at home”