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ON THEIR TOES from page 88
"Dilemmas of the Day" makes use
of comic elements as well as symbolic
;=) music and lighting to highlight the
girl's realization that the Old
Testament is enjoyable to read.
"Solomon's Decision," the second
part of the program, depicts the
ancient tale of two mothers fighting
over one child. Choreographed by
company member Andrew Bayne,
the dance features Fisher as King
D Solomon, whose "decision has set a
/-
precedent for justice and law
throughout the millenniums,"
according to the Jewish. Perspectives
brochure.
"In Remembrance," depicting the
grief of a mother who lost her child in
the Holocaust, is by far the most
haunting section of the program.
Choreographed by Jennifer Vanucchi,
it juxtaposes the jazz and dancing of
1930s Germany, banned by the Nazis,
with a train delivering Jews to a con-
centration camp.
Costumes in this dance are partic-
ularly symbolic: Yellow Stars of
David are worn on the chests of
black leotards; once confined in the
camp, dancers wear shredded prison
' uniforms.
Eventually, all the prisoners die,
except for one who is liberated as she
is about to be shot by a Nazi guard. At
the end of the dance, the concentra-
tion camp victims appear as angels to
help the survivor cope with her altered
sense of reality.
"L'Chaim," the final section, chore-
\ ographed by Allison Hart, celebrates
life and love through the rituals of the
Jewish marriage. The romantic ending
of the Jewish wedding brings a warm
closure to the program.
The American Jewish Ballet's sec-
ond program is no less ambitious in
showing how history has shaped much
of Jewish identity. It highlights the
past 1,500 years of Jewish history in
Spain, paying homage to the biblical,
historical and intellectual traditions of
Jews living in the Iberian Peninsula.
Its first ballet, "The Zohar," deals
with the mystical book of Kabbalah.
"The Edict of 1492" demonstrates
the relationship between Jews and
the rulers of Spain, particularly
Queen Isabella, who expelled the
Jews
in 1492.
/
In the same year, Christopher
Columbus launched his ships in search
of a new route to India. The plot of
"The Edict of 1492" uses the Jews'
accomplishments in Spain to show
how Jewish and Spanish history are
entwined.
The third act in the program,
"Ladino" (The Celebration) sets to
music the words of three great
medieval Jewish figures: philosopher
Moses Maimonides and poets Samuel
Ha-Nagid and Judah Halevi. The bal-
let makes use of Ladino, the native
tongue of Spanish Jews, with original
music by American Jewish Ballet
composer Rachael Sage and lyrics
entirely in Ladino.
Fisher is now working on a new
program for the ballet's next season,
based on the story of Esther.
Purim will consist of six scenes,
including "a type of Shakespearean
tableau" as the opening and a battle
between the archetypal enemies,
Mordecai and Haman."
Yet whether the American Jewish
Ballet will survive to dance the Purim
ballet is uncertain, as the young com-
pany is facing financial hurdles.
According to Fisher, the company is
already $3,500 in debt, as "grants cover
only 10 to 15 percent of the budget.
Although the troupe has greatly
benefited from the contributions of
private individuals, as well as grants
from the Harkness Foundation for
Dance, the Charles and Lynn
Schusterman Family Foundation and
the United Arts of Central Florida, it
still needs more financing.
Our budget is $20,000," Fisher
said. "That's nothing when you
employ 12 professional dancers."
Recently, fiscal problems forced
the troupe to cancel some perfor-
mances. It was invited to perform in
Cuba but was unable to cover the
costs of travel. Some of the American
Jewish Ballet's grant applications to
Jewish cultural groups have been
rejected, surprising Fisher.
"We've touched people," he said.
"We are doing something which has
never been done before, and we're
incorporating new and young artists."
Fisher said he's worried about the
future of the ballet without stronger
financial backing.
The New York Times Magazine
recently ran a cover story about how
Jews are increasingly assimilating
and losing their culture," Fisher said.
The American Jewish Ballet "is
doing the exact opposite, yet no one
is supporting us." I I
For more information about the
American Jewish Ballet, contact
Julian Fisher at (407) 578-6486;
e-mail at info@americanjewishbal-
let.org ; or go to the Web page at
www.americanjewishballet.org .
We just spent S1.5 million to be completely
refreshed and rejuvenated.
We've gone to extremes to update, upgrade, and improve
our hotel. We've installed new carpet, furniture, wall paper, and drapes
throughout the hotel. We've redesigned the layout of our guest rooms and
equipped every one with 2-line telephones with voicemail & data ports; a
large work desk with thoughtful features like desk level outlets, pull-out
shelf for your laptop and ergonomic chair; a coffee maker; and a hair dryer.
FROM
per room
per night
We've even converted all of our queen beds to kings. Come, check
us out. For reservations, call your professional travel agent,
1-800-HILTONS, or the hotel direct at 248-357-1100.
www.southfield.hilton.com
I
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exclusive of tax and gratuity and does not apply to groups or other offers and is subject to change without notice. The
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Detroit Jewish News
91