 | ||
The Jezreel Valley Contemporary Dance Festival is an annual contemporary dance festival that takes place during the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, as part of the Milk & Honey Festival in the Jezreel Valley, Israel. The festival was established by contemporary dance association "Alon Jezreel" and choreographer Ze'ev Keren in 2010, and hosts contemporary dance companies aged 30 and up from all over Israel. The festival's artistic director is Ze'ev Keren.
The first festival, which took place in 2010 commemorated 100 years of Israeli settlement in the Jezreel Valley. Specially for this occasion, choreographers Shlomo Haziz, Dganit Rom, and Ze'ev Keren put together the dance "Standing Guard", performed by Hora Rishonim Jerusalem, Misgav Contemporary Dance Company, and Alon Jezreel Contemporary Dance Company, who opened and concluded the festival. The dance has become a festival tradition, and opens and concludes every festival since.
Following the success of the first festival, Alon Jezreel Association, with the support of participating dance companies, the festival's hosts, and CEO of the Ministry of Culture and Sport Orly Frumann, decided to turn the festival into a Shavuot tradition in the Jezreel Valley. Since, dance companies annually partake in the festival, performing specially made dances put together with accordance to the theme of the specific year's festival. The audience can enjoy a nice big serving of the beautiful land of Israel, vivid clothing, and the performances onstage.
Participating dance companies stay in Nahalal during the two days of the festival, and enjoy activities such as excursions in the Jezreel Valley, field activities, and contemporary dance-related workshops.
The festival in 2011 – "Chicken on the Yarkon Bridge", was dedicated to the 60s Israeli band "The Chickens" and trio "Gesher HaYarkon" in commemoration of 50 years to their contribution to Israeli culture. The guest of honor at the festival was The Chickens' founder Neomi Polani.
The festival in 2012 – "Land of the Tsabar", was held at the Amphitheater in Nahalal, and hosted Serbian contemporary dance company "Kod Tent", sponsored by Serbian Ambassador to Israel, who performed in traditional clothing accompanied by an orchestra playing Serbian folk music.
The festival in 2013 "Coefficient of restitution" – was held at the event hall of the kibbutz Yif'at. 15 different contemporary dance companies partook and performed dances with the theme of the Jewish people from their formation until their restitution to the land of Israel. At the finale of the festival, which was held at the sports hall in Nahalal, the festival hosted a contemporary dance company from the Gaza envelope, with the artistic directing of Gavri Levi.