The Zionist Federation and Szpiezak Productions are proud to announce that they are bringing over BGU's Pola Dance Company from Israel. This will be the first appearance in the UK from the dance company, who will be performing ‘LA KARINA.’
The group was initially scheduled to perform in August at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. However, following the commencement of ‘Operation Protective Edge’ the festival began voicing their concerns about the Pola Dance Company’s participation. Alongside regular anti-Israel protests and a rise in anti-Semitism, the festival received a letter signed by various British artists that called for the Pola Dance Company to be disinvited, due to the group having received funding from the Israeli government.
It was also during this period that the Incubator Theatre, another Israeli company, was scheduled to perform at the Edinburgh Festival. While the Incubator Theatre travelled to Edinburgh as planned, they were continually harassed by anti-Israel protesters, until they were no longer able to use the venues they had booked. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival recommended that the Pola Dance Company should not attend, implying that they could not guarantee the safety of the artists or their ability to perform free of harassment.
The ZF, in partnership with Szpiezak Productions, is now bringing the group over for two nights only - Sunday 2nd November in Brighton and Monday 3rd November in London.
BGU's Dance Company (Pola) has been exploring the language of international contemporary dance movement for the last 6 years, drawing on real-life experiences to convey abstract concepts through movement. BGU President Prof. Rivka Carmi and the Dean of Students have enabled and supported the exploration of dance at the University lead by Artistic Director Dedi Alofer.
The company is named after Paula Ben-Gurion, the American-born wife of Israel’s founding father and first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion. It is comprised of 12 student/dancers from BGU. It is unusual for a university dance company to reach the level of professionalism that these students have achieved. They are professional dancers, and also students – destined for careers in medicine, science, engineering, physiotherapy and more - which has created a unique experience unlike any other.
'LA KARINA' is the result of the continual search for movement that combines the dancers’ passion for freedom of movement with their desire to create a unique signature language of movement for the company. The soundtrack combines Balkan, Ladino, Lebanese and classical music such as the Barber of Seville, alongside Greek, Middle, Eastern and Flamenco-inspired Spanish music. The soundtrack helps set the scenes of the performance - the courtyards of ancient cities.
LISTINGS
SUNDAY 2nd NOVEMBER (BRGHTON) 7.30pm
Advanced tickets: £12
MONDAY 3RD NOVEMBER (LONDON – FINCHLEY) 7.30PM
Advanced tickets: £15
To Book tickets: www.zionist.org.uk
/ 020 8202 0202 ON SALE NOW
Zionist Federation
The Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, also known as the British Zionist Federation or simply the Zionist Federation (ZF), was established in 1899 to campaign for a permanent homeland for the Jewish people. The Zionist Federation is an umbrella organisation for the Zionist movement in the United Kingdom, representing more than 120 organisations, and over 50,000 affiliated members.
In 1917, the British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour communicated the Balfour Declaration to the leader of United Kingdom’s Jewish community Lord Rothschild for transmission to the Zionist Federation.
Ilai Szpiezak for Szpiezak Productions – Producer
Ilai Szpiezak started his career as a dancer and teacher of Israeli Dancing in 2006, rapidly moving into choreography and direction of performing troupes and artistic organisations in Argentina, where he is originally from. He moved to London in 2011, hired as the Dance Development Manager of a Dance Institute, where he has been responsible for teaching, directing and organising annual classes, workshops and concerts in London and around the UK. Ilai is frequently hired as an organiser/instructor of dance seminars in different countries around Europe and the UK, combining his expertise in dance and education and his passion for producing.
In 2013 he opened Ilaidance, his Event Entertainment Company offering a new concept in shows and productions for private and corporate functions. The company has already produced two shows: CHAZAK! and Showtime, offered creative services to a wide range of clients and created a lineup of bespoke productions to come for 2015. Ilai is expanding his productions to theatre with the creation of Szpiezak Productions. Previous productions include: See Rock City and Other Destinations at The Union Theatre, Confessions of a Rabbi’s Daughter at Etcetera Theatre, Accidental Festival at the Roundhouse and Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Assistant Producer for AfterParty A Capella at the St.James Studio, Funk Da Cirque ‘Soultrip’ for CircusFest at The Roundhouse. He has just finished undertaking his MA in Creative Producing at the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama.
