Hydra
Choreographer, director and set design: Inbal Pinto and Avshalom Pollak

Inbal Pinto and Avshalom Pollak's new work, performed by the Inbal Pinto Dance Company and guest dancers from Japan, is the result of a collaboration between the Saitama Arts Foundation in Japan, Steps #11 International Dance Festival Switzerland and the Israel Festival. The premiere took place in Japan in October 2007, the Swiss premiere in April 2008, and the Israeli premiere will open the Festival. "Hydra is hypnotising in its beauty" wrote a Japanese critic. The work combines Western and Japanese influences and attempts to bring together different ideas dealing with beauty and hope contained in promises rarely ever fulfilled.

The creators who brought "Boobies" and "Oyster" to the stage, to name just a few of their remarkable works, are staging a new work filled with imagination and magic.

Sherover Theatre May 24 at 21:30 May 25 at 21:00 approx. 1 hour, without intermission

A meeting with Inbal Pinto and Avshalom Pollak will take place following the performance on May 25

After the performance on May 24 the Festival Jazz Club will open with a performance by the North Rhine-Westphalia Youth Jazz Orchestra in the Jerusalem Theatre Foyer. Admission Free.
With the assistance of the Goethe Institute

The performance is dedicated to the inspirational Adi Semel who accompanied the company with love.

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The company of Angelin Preljocaj, a French choreographer of Albanian origin, returns to the Festival with two of his earlier works, which demonstrated his inimitable style to the world and which have been performed for almost 20 years now. An exceptional company which regularly performs around the world, the company's founder has been bestowed with every possible French honour and the prestigious Bessie Award.

"Larmes Blanches" (White Tears) is a tender love story between two couples trapped by the conventions of everyday life. "Noces" (Wedding) was created with the help of Israeli choreographer Naomi Perlov to music by Igor Stravinsky. The New York Times dance critic wrote that "D. H. Lawrence might have appreciated the instinctual drive and onrush of sexual passion that dominate "Les Noces".
"The viewer was left not just a forceful picture, but also Preljocaj's remarkable choreographic range, structuring inventiveness and musicality. 'Noces' was one of the most beautifully terrifying ballets I've seen, surreal like a painfully gratifying sexual dream." Chronicle
"'Larmes Blanches' is an utterly original choreography which heralds the arrival of a remarkable choreographer to the world of dance." Le Figaro

Sherover Theatre June 10, 11 at 21:00 June 12 at 18:00 approx. 1½ hrs, including intermission

A lecture in Hebrew by Rachel Bilski-Cohen about "Noces" will be held in the Henry Crown Foyer on June 11 at 20:00.
A lecture in Hebrew by Naomi Perlov about "Noces" will be held in the Henry Crown Foyer on June 12 at 17:00.
With the assistance of the Cultural Service of the French Embassy in Israel and CulturesFranceCulturesfrance

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Onquoto - Parabelo

Artistic Director: Paulo Pederneiras

Choreographer: Rodrigo Pederneiras

Described by the New York Times as the best dance company in Brazil, Grupo Corpo returns to the Festival after an absence of 11 years. The company's style is characterized by a combination of modern dance, Brazilian street dance, African dance and even ballet.
Grupo Corpo is bringing two works to the Festival - Onquot?, which explores the place of man in the universe, and Parabelo, which places an emphasis on Brazilian dance styles. Both works have been created to music especially written for them by the greats of Brazilian music. The music for Onquot? was written by Caetano Veloso, who also wrote the music for an Almodovar film and for the Pina Bausch Dance Company. The music for Parableo was composed by Tom Z? and Jos? Miguel Wisnik.

"How gratifying it is to see a performance of such seductive and generous physicality. To judge by the audience's appreciative roar after this double-bill, I wasn't alone in my transporting pleasure." The Times

Jerusalem International Convention Center June 12 at 21:00 June 13 at 14:00 approx. 2 hours, including intermission

A meeting with Rodrigo Pederneiras moderated by Rachel Bilski-Cohen will take place on June 13 at 12:45 in the I.C.C. Limited seating.
With the assistance of the Brazilian Embassy in Israel

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Little Red | Touching All | All Around | Green in Blue

Choreographer, artistic director & dancer: Henri Oguike

The dance company led by Henri Oguike, the young Welsh choreographer of Welsh-Nigerian Nigerian descent, Henri Oguike, is coming to the Festival for the first time. This company of 12 dancers will perform four works, two of which were premiered in 2008. The works are extremely diverse, being performed to music by Vivaldi, Mexican music, North African music and jazz. "Touching All" and "All Around" are part of a new project by Oguike which explores physicality. "Little Red" is a wild and explosive work for six women. "Green in Blue" was created in collaboration with jazz saxophonist Iain Ballamy.

"Oguike is one of Britain's juiciest young dancers." The Daily Telegraph
"Oguike is one of the best things happening in British dance right now…Everything that is good about contemporary dance is evident in his work: astute musical choices; stunning dancers who bring flexibility, timing and drama to the table and intelligent choreography." The Scotsman

Rebecca Crown Auditorium June 16, 17 at 20:30 approx. 2 hrs, including intermission

A lecture by Rachel Bilski-Cohen in Hebrew on "A Guide to Watching Dance" will take place in the Henry Crown Foyer on June 17 at 19:30.
With the assistance of BI-ARTS - the British Israeli Art Training Scheme of the British Council, the Israeli Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Science, Culture and Sport

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