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

The Voices Have Visited. No thanks too small.

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

Yasmeen Godder’s Storm End Come

As you may know, I am enrolled in a unique-to-Dance Jerusalem lecture course called Dance in Israel. As you may or may not know, I adore it. Though all lessons are filled with great information, video, photo, and opportunity for discussion, the most effective (and my favorite) progression of these dance history (or current events?) lessons ends with a trip to see a live performance. Just last night Dance Jerusalem hit the Suzanne Dellal Center once more for another amazing demonstration of Israeli dance. This time, we visited Tel Aviv to see Yasmeen Godder’s Storm End Come.

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Photo courtesy of Gadi Dagon

Visiting Voices

Choreography has been on my mind like crazy lately. Details in another post to come soon. I’m quite looking forward to presenting my work in two shows next month, including Visiting Voices, the collaborative show among the Rothberg International School arts programs, Art Jerusalem, Jerusalem Sounds, and Dance Jerusalem, produced by Kyle Georgina Marsh.

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Click here to visit the Facebook event page.

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Here it is, the official marketing image for Visiting Voices.
It was designed by Art Jerusalem student and typography enthusiast, David Klein.

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Jerusalem Sounds and Art Jerusalem

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Did you know that my program, Dance Jerusalem, is just one of three fine arts programs offered by the Rothberg International School at Hebrew University?

To blog or not to blog.

If I had not mentioned in an earlier post, I am a part of the Jerusalem Academy Dance Ensemble. As a part of this ensemble, we’re learning repertory from several different choreographers. We perform the repertory at some capacity in the months to come. So far, we’ve been learning the works of Jacopo Godani, Smadar Goshen, and Inbal Pinto & Avshalom Pollak.

Biography of Jacopo Godani, c/o the Israel Opera

Website of Inbal Pinto & Avshalom Pollak

 

How should I blog about dance?

I have debated with myself about how much is the right amount to write about our work in the Ensemble. This is why I haven’t written about it until now. I’ve decided against showing video, of either us or professional companies performing the works. I suppose some photos could be alright, if media is even necessary. (It sure does make reading this more engaging, doesn’t it?) I don’t wish to reveal too much, even in words, before we’ve even gotten deeper into the choreography. I want to tell you all what’s going on, but don’t want to offer spoilers. I hate spoilers.

 

Do you understand the struggle here?
Does anyone have suggestions? I’m open.

Spirituality and Modern Dance

The Gerard Behar Center is a home for the arts in downtown Jerusalem. Vertigo Dance Company and Kolben Dance each have spaces there, and there are two performance halls as well. I went down there last week to drop in on a Kolben Dance company class. Last night, after what was a long day of class and rehearsal, a number of us went down to the Gerard Behar Center to see the first of two nights of a small choreography festival.