“So how was Israel?”

The most frequently asked question!

Gaga. I must keep moving until the end.

It’s no doubt that this Spring semester has taken a lot out of me. We finished off our choreographic works, have performed student works and professional repertory, the highlight of which was dancing on the main stage at Suzanne Dellal. This week, I finish my studies with technical exams. But in an effort to squeeze out just a little bit more dance from this experience in Israel, I’m turning to Gaga.

|

Photo Credit: Gadi Dagon

Finished with Hebrew

.סוף סוף השיעורי עברית שלי מפסקו
.עשיתי מצוין במבחן, קיבלתי 94 בקורס
!יותר גבוה ממה קיבלתי באולפן בספטמבר

אני רוצה ללמוד עוד עברית כשאני חוזר הביתה אבל אני לא יכול
.כי הקורסים המודרניים במייסון גרוס והשיעורי העברית באותו זמן

.חבל

.אולי אני יכולֹ לדבר עם החברים הישראליים שלי בסקייפ או בפייסבוק או משהו כזה
.אבל לגור במקום שכל אחד מדבר השפה ממש חשוב כש אתה רוצה ללמוד את זה

?מי יודע
…אולי אני תחזור לישראל לעבוד או לרקוד או רק לבקר

|

הינה כמה תמונות על הכיתה שלי:

|

אני ויונת

|

הכיתה שלנו

|

(Continue to see the translation.)

A Letter to Myself, In the Spirit of Packing Lists

Dear August 2011 Carlo,

With approximately two weeks left in Israel, I am preparing to leave in the way I know best:  making lists. As I decide what to pack and what to do away with, I find myself revisiting a familiar place in my mind and it’s where you are now, packing and freaking out about leaving for Israel. Now almost ten months wiser about living in this place, I’ve decided to compile a few packing lists for you, my August 2011 self:

• things you’ll be glad you brought
• things you had no idea you needed
• things you need to buy right away
• things you totally don’t need

Acrobatics and Adama

|

On Thursday, May 24, Dance Jerusalem rode to Mizpe Ramon
to the middle of Israel’s Negev Desert to visit Hangar Adama.

|

|

From my journal:

We had found ourselves in the desert, with the freedom to take whichever classes we wanted … Acrobalance abounded, and though muscular in nature, a heavy emphasis was put on trust … We slept collectively in one of the studios, but many other convention goers slept in tents under the stars … Everyone was friendly and willing to share knowledge, or a nice back massage … Balance, balance, acrobalance, balance … Muscles, joints, quiet…

The Voices Have Visited. No thanks too small.

Because photos are easier to read than words,
your enjoyment of this blog post is guaranteed.

Israeli College Student Day 2012

Something I’ve really come to appreciate about the Jewish cultural Middle East is their celebration of a generous amount of holidays. Many of the ones that stop the city of Jerusalem in its tracks are described in sacred texts. Others, like Yom HaStudent (יום הסטודנט), or Israeli College Student Day, are simply widely observed mental health days.

|