`–)

1997

5758

Israel Ballet Troupe
Takes A 30-Year Bow

formance ends at 11:30 pm,
here was a time when men-
rehearsal the next day is at 11 am
tioning dance in Israel
and continues for a grueling eight
evoked the image of young
hours.
pioneers, hands clasped,
The dancers spend a considerable
dancing exuberantly around a camp-
amount
of time doing exercises that
fire to the folk tunes of a fledgling
develop
and strengthen their bodies,
nation. Today, in Israel, there are a
resulting
in the lightness and perfec-
multitude of
tion we see on
dance troupes
g,
stage. Ms.
representing all
r2Yampols com-
(‘ genres of the art.
g biped these sim-
Holding center
ple warming up
stage in the clas-
\
§
exercises and
,—sical arena is the
basic
steps with
Israel Ballet.
the
music
of
This year
composer
Carl
marks the 30th
Czerny and
anniversary of
choreographed
the Israel Ballet,
the short ballet
which was
Carte De Visite,
founded in 1967
which
was the
by two young
first
ballet
in the
_Israeli dancers,
Israel
Ballet's
husband and
30th anniversary
wife team Bertha
program.
Yamplosky and
The talent
Hillel Markman.
and determina-
\--leaving Israel in
tion of Ms.
1957 to train
Yampolsky
and
and gain experi-
Folk dance groups abound in Israel.
Mr.
Markman
ence in Europe,
have put a defi-
they studied with
nite stamp on
• London's Royal Ballet and danced
the
ballet
company.
"I
always tell my
/their way across Europe and
dancers," says Bertha, "lift your
America. While representing
heads up and keep dancing beauti-
Switzerland as leading soloists in the
fully.
Be proud. You are the Israel
\ prestigious Arts Festival in Athens, a
Ballet."
thought came to them. They
; returned home to establish a ballet
– WZPS
company.
Today they are a 35-member com-
pany of top dancers — with an
\ _extensive repertoire and a profession-
"–al sound system — who dance on
the world's stages to critical acclaim.
A new orchard of indigenous Eretz
In 1974 came the Israel Ballet's
Yisrael fruit trees was inaugurated
_first commissioned work, Tod
at the Jewish National Fund's Sataf
iBolender's Still Point. That year,
agricultural farm in the Jerusalem
• Yampolsky choreographed her first
hills,
where visitors will be able to
ballet, Symphonic Variations.
see,
touch
and taste a variety of
In 1979, the late, treat Georges
fruit grown in Israel during biblical,
Balanchine, foremost choreographer
Mishnaic and Talmudic times.
'J and ballet director, was so impressed
The orchard was reconstructed
by the Israel Ballet that he gave them
with the assistance of Bible
special permission to preform his
researchers, archaeologists, agrono-
ballets without payment.
mists,
botanists, ethnographers,
Ms. Yampolsky is very proud of
geneticists
and rabbis in order to pre-
the fact that 50 percent of the
serve the genetics of Eretz Yisraels
dancers in the Israel Ballet are Israeli
trees.
by birth, 30 percent are Russian
The site includes plots which are
olim, and only 20 percent are visit
rented out to city dwellers with an
ors from abroad. Despite the fact
interest in dabbling in agriculture
,that composition of the dance
using ancient methods. They receive
corps changes often, the company
on-site
training from JNF workers,
works very hard to maintain perfec-
who
live
at the site with their families.
tion. Even though the evening per-

l

Fruit Trees
In Sataf Forest

To All Our

Friends, Customers
& Relatives
A Happy,
Healthy & Prosperous

NEW YEAR

from

The Milen Family

it. 1

t

"more than
just a car
wash"

AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY

Phyllis Fine R.N.
& Associates

—

9/26
1997

R9