Israeli Dance Company for Sydney Opera House
The Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company (KCDC) will showcase a new work,– Horses in the Sky at The Sydney Opera House later this month.
Horses in the Sky Photo: Eyal Hirsch
The performance is choreographed by artistic director Rami Be’er and includes an eclectic musical selection including Bjork, Olafur Arnalds, Elvis Presley and Blonde Redhead.
David Ben Shimon
Dancer David Ben Shimon, who was born in the US, joined the KCDC’s second company in 2010, joining the main company in 2012. He also helps run international auditions for the Dance Journey program and teaches ballet to the program’s dancers.
J-Wire caught up with Ben Shimon ahead of the company’s visit to Australia at the end of August.
“I am very excited to come to Australia and believe performing at the Sydney Opera House will be the highlight of my career so far” he said.
Ben Shimon took up dancing at the age of five. He was studying gymnastics when his coach suggested ballet would help that. Within a few years he quit gymnastics and concentrated on learning ballet. When he later competed in diving competitions, he found his dance training was invaluable.
“I think that doing athletics and diving helped me achieve the necessary precision of athleticism required for contemporary dance .”
Rami Beer
“Rami (Be’er) is a perfectionist. I am doing things with my body that I never expected I would ever do. Horses in the Sky is particularly action–packed and Rami, while being careful, pushes us to our limits.”
Dancers come from around the world, with about half the company coming from outside Israel. The company is based in Kibbutz Ga’aton in the Galilee where Be’er comes from.
“The kibbutz is a magical and special place, the studios are always open and dancers are able to practices at any hour of the day or night” said Ben Shimon.
He describes Horses in the Sky as intense with tough movements requiring a very athletic performance. Featuring 16 dancers, it’s named after a song/album by Canadian alt-rock band, A Silver Mount Zion.
Be’er is renowned for his work with leading dance companies across the world and is responsible for the choreography and staging, lighting and costume design, as well as sound editing.
Ben Shimon hopes he will have the opportunity to do a little sightseeing and climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge before going home for teaching duties.
The Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company will perform Horses in the Sky from 31st August-3rd September.
