Vancouver — By thevancouverguide on February 15, 2011 at 6:54 pm
Filed under: dance, Jewish culture, music, theater

Celebrate Jewish Culture at the Chutzpah! Festival

The Chutzpah! Festival of dance, theatre and music celebrates contemporary Jewish culture with shows and performers in venues around Vancouver until Sunday, February 27.

The main venue is the Norman Rothstein Theatre, but there are also performances at the Scotiabank Dance Centre, Presentation House Theatre Venue nightclub, and the Commodore Ballroom This years festival includes an artist residency program that brings together dancers and choreographers from Israel and Canada.

Kibbutz

A newcomer to Chutzpah! is Klezmarata Fiorentina, four principal musicians from the Florentine Symphony from Italy performing the klezmar music of Ashkenagi Jews of Central and Eastern Europe with a classical approach, February 16th at the Norman Rothstein Theatre.

Sunday, February 20, at the Norman Rothstein Theatre, singers Theresa Tova, Mitch Smolken and guests perform in A Tribute to Avram Sutzkever a tribute to the Yiddish poet and partisan who died in 2010 The performances includes Sutzekever’s poetry and music.

Jaffa Road from Toronto, an award-winning world music group is at the Norman R0thstein Theatre on Saturday, February 19.

One of the festival’s major dance presentations is Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company from Israel who will perform Ekodoom, a work fo 18 dancers choreographed by Rami Be’er. Performances are February 22 and 23 at the Norman Rothstein Theatre.

On Thursday, February 24, the Canadian Premiere of Yemen Blues presents musicians from Israel and New York with Ravid Kahalani and bass virtuoso Omer Avital. Kahalani’s music reflects Middle Eastern and African influences.

Enjoy a dance double bill with Full Bloom from Toronto and Germany, choreographed and performed by three dynamic male dancers Kevin O’Day, Luches Huddleston Jr. and Robert Glumbek with choreography by Roberto Campanella. And artists/choreographers in residence from Israel Yossi Berg and Oded Graf dance along with Noam Gagnon, Justine Chambers and Ziyian Kwan from Vancouver. These performances are at the Norman Rothstein Theatre Saturday, February 29 and Sunday, February 27.

Popular Balkan Beat Box will be featured at the closing night party, February 27, at the Commodore. (Limited seating).

There are dozens of other performances every day, so be sure and check the program.

Tickets are available on site or purchase on line and at Chuzpah! boxoffice