SUZANNE CHESSLER

Special to the Jewish News

N

Co-commissioned by the
National Foundation for
Jewish Culture, Pilobolus
Dance Theatre, joined by
the Klezmatics, performs
a new work inspired by prayer.

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2001

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Members of the Pilobolus Dance
Theatre d6 the laws of gravity,
flying through space and
creating a world of visual surprise.

Inset: The Klezmatics: Top:
David Licht; middle: Frank
London, Lorin Sklamberg and
Paul Morrissett; bottom, Alicia
Svi gals and Matt Darriau.

ew World artistry
mixes with Old
World traditions
in a touring dance
spectacle celebrating the
40th anniversary of the
National Foundation for
Jewish Culture, which is
based in New York.
Davenen, a piece developed
by the Pilobolus Dance
Theatre with original music
by the Klezmatics' Frank
London, comes to the Power
Center in Ann Arbor for three
performances Jan. 6-7. As
dancers carry out the acrobat-
ics and body configurations
that are signature to Pilobolus,
the Klezmatics will play the
score.
"This piece might well be
dedicated to those who pray,
who choose to refine and
divine their lives in this way
and in so doing meet the daily
round of alien thoughts, urg-
ings and temptations — the
-wide-mouthed demons striv-
ing to be tamed, raised and
redeemed," reads the program
note for Davenen.
Co-commissioned by the
NFJC, the Ford Motor Co.
and many presenters, includ-
ing Ann Arbor's University
Musical Society, the dance and
music form only one expres-
sion of NFJC's extensive work
with artists, scholars, cultural
institutions and community
.agencies to strengthen Jewish
identity through the arts and
humanities.
The foundation, which is
taking the production to 26
American cities, funds Jewish
theater pieces, documentary
filmmaking, doctoral disserta-
tion fellowships, cultural
preservation and artist residen-
cies and retreats.
Other pieces will be present-
ed along with Davenen. They
include A Selection, a work