Stepping inside the Jerusalem Theatre during the Israel Festival, June 1-18, is like entering an unparalleled universe, occupied by artists, musicians, dancers, and creators. First, Sherover Hall: an enchanting contemporary dance performance blending virtual with reality; hop over to Ha'Ulpan: an absurd theatrical civilization of the utterly banal; down the hall: a beautiful baroque ensemble, sensual saraband, and tribute to one of Israel's most inspirational poets.
The Israel Festival provides a unique platform for contemporary International and Israeli voices from a multitude of cultural backgrounds to come together, and create a dialogue that carries on far past June 18. We've rounded up some must-see performances from each genre to make the 17 day event a little less overwhelming :
Music
Groove Party, A-WA, Firqat Al Noor Orchestra, with special guests
The two-and-a-half week Israel Festival is a marathon not a sprint. Nonetheless, they're kicking off the entertaining event with a mad dash in the form of an electrifying groove party. There's no better place to dance the night away than the magical open air Sultan's Pool, and no better people to celebrate with than the top emerging and established musicians, including A-WA, Nasreen Qadi, and Kutiman Orchestra. Dance away the night with a collaboration of cultures and genres, bringing Yemenite, Bollywood, Jewish and Arabic music to the stage.
Jun 1, 20:00. Sultan's Pool
Theatre
Crazy Girls Save the World, Miss Revolutionary Idol Berserker (Japan)
Director and choreographer Toco Nikaido set out on a mission to capture the audience's undivided attention for 45 frenetic minutes. From explosive bursts of energy to pop-anime music, video projects, confetti, glow sticks, and other sensory stimulants, Nikaido offers a glimpse into the life of a Japanese teenage girl in Tokyo, Japan. Crazy Girls Save the World catapults the audience into a parallel universe in the spirit of anime – a world ruled by powerful women. Dystopian or Utopian? That's for you to decide.
Jun 2, 12:00, 14:00; Jun 3, 21:00, 23:00. Ha'Ulpan, Jerusalem Theatre
Poetry/Music
A Tribute to Tirza Atar, Nathan Slor (Atar's son), et al.
Tirza Atar was more than a poet, songwriter, author, and translator, she was an inspiration to Israel. With the 40th anniversary of her death upon us, Atar's son has gathered a group of musical professionals to commemorate his mother's prolific works. The rich cast of musical minds will dive into the world of Atar's compositions, deconstructing and rebuilding each piece into an exciting new arrangement. Expect the unexpected, like Mediterranean interpretations set to Eastern percussion instruments and contemporary-electronic arrangements.
Jun 8, 21:00. Henry Crown Hall, Jerusalem Theatre
Performance
Transfiguration, Olivier de Sagazan (France)
© Didier Carluccio
Born in the Congo and raised in France, Sagazan's hypnotic work exposes a metanarrative that examines the artist's unfulfilled longing to breathe life into his creation. As the sculptor, painter, and performer physically buries himself beneath clay, Sagazan metaphorically disappears deeper into his art, losing his sense of identity. Transfiguration analyzes the body and structures which come to define the individual as dictated by society, culture, and history.
Jun 14, 22:00; Jun 15, 21:30. Mikro Hall, Jerusalem Theatre
Dance
DANCE, Lucinda Childs (USA) - Music: Philip Glass / Film: Sol LeWitt
© Sally Cohen
Lucinda Childs is arguably one of the most prominent postmodern dancers and choreographers of her time. Her iconic work DANCE revolutionized the 20th century as it introduced an entirely new dance language to both America and the international sphere that she carries with her to this day. In this mesmerizing piece, Childs synchronizes the virtual with the actual as she pairs live dancers with those projected on a screen behind them.
Jun 17, 21:00. Sherover Hall, Jerusalem Theatre
For more information visit: israel-festival.org