Pilobolus Dance Theatre to Tour Israel

January 4, 2008 at 9:33 am | In Art & Cinema |

Pilobolus, the internationally acclaimed American dance company, announced today that it will tour Israel later this month with famed photographer Robert Whitman. The Consulate General of Israel is sponsoring Whitman’s visit on the occasion of Israel’s 60th anniversary.

Known for his energetic trademark photos, Whitman displays a unique talent for capturing movement, whether he is working in the controlled atmosphere of the studio for top advertising and editorial clients such as Coca-Cola, Microsoft, American Express and IBM, or simply walking down the street of major global tourism destinations with camera in hand.
“While in Israel, Pilobolus and Robert Whitman will visit many cities and tourism sites – from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to the Dead Sea and Masada. The result will be a unique set of photographic impressions that celebrate our country’s rich heritage and tradition,” said David Saranga, Consul for Media and Public Affairs. “Whitman’s photographs will generate significant recognition and support our efforts to expand tourism in the coming year.”

Pilobolus, whose popularity in Israel was demonstrated by a sold-out tour in 2005, is recognized as a major American dance company of international influence with one of the most popular and varied repertoires in the field. Its many decades of consistent artistic activity are a testament to the group’s remarkable fruitfulness and longevity. It is dedicated to a collaborative choreographic process and a unique weight-sharing approach to partnering that gives the company a non-traditional but powerful new set of skills with which to make dances.

The upcoming tour comes on the heels of Pilobolus’ appearance at last year’s 79th annual Academy Awards broadcast, and will feature the Israeli premiere of a major new work, RUSHES, made in collaboration with Israeli choreographers Inbal Pinto and Avshalom Pollak. Pilobolus Artistic Directors Robby Barnett and Jonathan Wolken will accompany the group. RUSHES (2007) was co-commissioned by the American Dance Festival with support from the Doris Duke Awards for New Work and additional funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; by the Joyce Theater’s Stephen and Cathy Weinroth Fund for New Work; and by Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, Florida. It was also made possible in part by generous contributions from the Office of Cultural Affairs, Consulate General of Israel in New York and from Jonathan M. Nadler.

“As a unique arts organization, Pilobolus Dance Theatre’s seven-person touring company travels around the globe constantly to perform for audiences who enjoy our startling mix of humor and invention. Because our visit to Israel coincides with the approach of the State’s 60th anniversary, and includes the Israeli premiere of a new work made together with the Israelis, this trip is especially important to us and we are honored to partner with the Consulate General of Israel,” said Executive Director Itamar Kubovy.

In addition to Pilobolus Dance Theatre, which tours two companies internationally, Pilobolus has a teaching arm, the Pilobolus Institute, and Pilobolus Creative Services is an administrative structure that allows Pilobolus to coordinate creative activity with both commercial and artistic organizations outside the company.