My time here has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my personal and professional life as an artist. I would recommend it to anyone who desires to experience kibbutz life and Israeli contemporary dance. Prepare to be sore. Prepare to sweat!
As a Canadian who has spent half of her life living in the United States, I have been dancing professionally for a number of years now following graduation from the University of California, Irvine with a BFA in Dance and BA in English Literature. I have always been inspired by the prolific modern dance culture of Israel and jumped at the chance to experience it firsthand through Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company’s Dance Journey Program.
Here at the International Dance Village in Kibbutz Ga’aton, opportunities abound for us to train, perform, create, network, learn the Hebrew language, travel and explore the land of Israel, and experience the country and its culture up close and personal. For me, it has been an immeasurably unique privilege to thrive as a dancer in a non-urban setting—this place is a one-of-a-kind international dance ‘laboratory’ nuzzled in the rural hills of northern Israel! We spent our days dancing alongside accomplished artists. We work inside bright studios overlooking meadows and expansive blue ocean…yes really!
Alex Bradshaw
San Francisco, California (USA)
