I am currently a student enrolled in either a university dance program or dance academy. Can I receive course credit for courses taken at KCDC's Dance Journey program?

Yes you can! Despite the fact that Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company’s International ‘Dance Journey’ Program is technically not an accredited academic program, all current and past Dance Journey program participants who have requested that their university or dance academy recognizes the courses taken with us, have received course credit For both dance-related courses (ie contemporary, ballet, choreography, etc.) as well as Hebrew language and cultural immersion credits.Visit our Course Description page at www.kcdc.co.il/en/intl-dance-journey-program/course-description-curriculum/ to learn more about courses we Offer that can be credited as a study abroad program.

What kind of visa do we have to request or what type of visa will we receive?

You will receive a tourist or student visa. A student visa is usually only for dancers who receive a grant or scholarship from MASA. All others dancers enter Israel with a tourist visa. You will receive a 1-3 month tourist visa automatically once you arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. After 1-3 months in Israel, we will go with you to extend your tourist visa at the Israeli Ministry of Interior. We do recommend that you try to get a student visa from the Israeli Embassy in your home country before you depart to Israel.

Which documents must we have upon arrival at the international airport?

You will need to have with you the letter of acceptance to the Dance Journey program , a confirmation letter of the scholarship you received from MASA (for those of you who have received it) and a print out of your flight reservation.Will we need to get any particular vaccinations prior to traveling to Israel? Entrance to Israel does not require nor suggests any immunization shots or vaccinations.

What do Dance Journey participants do for banking in Israel and withdrawing money while in Israel?

As a tourist it is not recommended to open a bank account due to high commission and banking fees for tourists. Best that you arrive to Israel with a credit card (Visa or MasterCard) from your foreign bank; a card that will allow you to use and withdraw money from ATM machines here. It is also possible to come with traveler checks but it is much more complicated as not all banks here will accept them. There is also an ATM machine at the cafe in the kibbutz.

What type of accommodation or apartment will we live in?

Participants will share a 2-person dormitory-style room that is a 2-minute walk from the dance studios and which includes:

  • Small Kitchen
  • 2 Dish Towels
  • Shower
  • 4 Plates
  • Toilet
  • 4 Mugs
  • 2 Single Beds
  • 4 Glasses
  • Table and 2 Chairs
  • 4 Cutlery
  • Bookcase
  • 2 Cooking Pots
  • Air Conditioner & Heater
  • 1 Flying Pan
  • Microwave
  • Selection of Utensils
  • Refrigerator
  • Shower Curtain
  • Hot Plate
  • Squeegee
  • Electric Kettle
  • Broom
  • Window Shade & Decorative Curtain
  • Bucket
  • 2 Garbage Cans
  • Dustpan

N.B. Each bed will have a bathing towel, pillow, pillow case, fitted sheet, blanket, blanket cover.

What should I bring with me? Recommended packing list:

● Shirts ● Sunscreen
● Shorts ● Hat
● Pants ● Small Flashlight
● Work Clothes ● Bedding (Can Also Be Bought In Israel)
● Flip Flops ● Towels (Can Also Be Bought In Israel)
● Bathing Suit ● Camera
● Underwear ● Backpack For Weekend Trips
● Socks ● Sunglasses
● Walking/Hiking Shoes ● Converter/Adapter
● Pajamas ● Batteries, Battery Charger
● Warm Clothes (Especially For Winter) ● Toiletries
● Good Winter Jacket ● Imodium, Pepto Bismol, etc.
● Raincoat ● Pain Reliever
● Umbrella ● Cold Medicine
● Nice Casual Slacks/Skirt & Shirt ● iPod or Music Player
● Passport ● No need to bring Pointe Shoes
● 4 Passport-Sized Photos ● Electrical Charger/Converter (220V in Israel)

Should I bring extra sheets, blanket covers, pillow cases and bath towels [so that we can wash them]?

We provide you with only one set of linen (bed sheets) and one towel, so better you bring with you one more of each or buy in Israel.

Where can we eat?

There is a small grocery store or mini-market in the kibbutz where you can buy most of the essential products that you would need for cooking meals in your kitchen. There is also a cafe/restaurant on the kibbutz where you can purchase hot meals, sandwiches, salads, soups and local dishes and which is open daily around noon-time on Sunday thru Thursday as well as on weekends which in Israel is Friday and Saturday. The name of the restaurant is called “Café in Motion” and is located in Kibbutz Ga’aton. The nearby seaside city of Nahariya has many excellent restaurants, supermarkets and a wide variety of culinary options.

How much should I expect to spend monthly on food, travel, laundry, etc?

Generally speaking you should plan to budget roughly $350 USD per month to cover your food expenses, independent travel, laundry, etc.

Will we have access to a washing machine?

There is a laundry service in the kibbutz which you can use at 5.5 NIS per Kilo. Their service includes cleaning and ironing. We also have a washing machine & dryer for your use free of charge. You will only have to buy your own laundry detergent.

Can I purchase an Israeli SIM card for my phone and use it in Israel?

Yes. Just be sure that your phone is an ‘unlocked’ phone and is able to be used internationally.

Should I purchase my own travel insurance?

The Dance Journey program includes travel and health insurance which takes effect from the first day until the last day of the respective program.  Most participants also choose to have their own insurance.  Note that our insurance will not cover your while you’re in transit to/from Israel, so we advise that you be sure to take out a travel insurance policy that covers these dates as well and should you decide to arrive a few days before the program and stay a few days after the program, that you be sure to have an insurance policy that covers this extra time.

Our insurance policy is comprehensive and you’re welcome to read through it here.

Will we have internet access on the kibbutz?

You will have free wireless internet access (wi-fi) in your room and in the kibbutz’s café. We recommend that you bring your laptop and/or smartphone with you.

Are we allowed to have animals such as cats or dogs? Are there animals around the kibbutz?

According to the contract between the Kibbutz Ga’aton & KCDC, you cannot raise and have any animals. There are lots of cats and dogs on the the kibbutz. We ask that you do not feed them at or near your residence so they do not become accustomed to stay in or near your apartment. As you can understand, we wouldn’t want an animal to become attached or dependent on you once you leave.

What type of flight ticket should I book to and from Israel?

In order to land in Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport, you must have a return flight ticket upon your arrival to passport control. This must be a flight back to your home country or any other destination that is available from Tel Aviv. So when booking your flight to Ben Gurion International Airport, either purchase a roundtrip ticket or a one-way flight ticket to Ben Gurion Int’l Airport and another one-way ticket from Ben Gurion Int’l Airport to another international destination. Again, without a flight ticket out of Israel, you will not be allow to enter Israel upon your arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.

Which date should I book my return flight back home?

Once the program ends, many dancers often prefer to go to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem for a vacation or holiday or stay longer to audition for other dance companies and/or dance projects in Israel. We recommend that you arrange your return flight date a maximum 2 days following Dance Journey’s completion since your visa will most likely expire at the end of the program. Unfortunately you will not be allowed to stay in Israel after the visa’s expiration. However, participants who will receive a 1-year student visa will of course be able to stay till the visa’s expiration date.

I would like to arrive in Israel a day or two before the program begins. Can I check-in to my room before the program begins?

Your rooms in Ga’aton will not be ready until the program’s start day at 12:00PM. There are a number of accommodation options in the nearby city of Nahariya on its main street of Sderot HaGa’aton. One of the least expensive options is the ‘Ga’aton Motel’ on Ga’aton Street in Nahariya which has friendly staff and is near the center of town and the sea.

From there, its also a short walk from the train station and also if will be there few dancers, we will pick you up with the bus from the motel

Where will the Dance Journey bus be waiting on the first day of the program?

Our bus will meet you in the city of Nahariya. In order to get there from Ben Gurion Internatioanl Airport (Tel Aviv), take the train from the train station in the airport directly to the northernmost coastal city of Nahariya.

The journey from Tel Aviv to Nahariya takes approximately 2 hours, and the cost is 49 New Isareli Shekels or roughly $13 USD. You can find train times at www.rail.co.il/EN and you do not have to buy a ticket in advance.

The Nahariya station is the last train station on this route and our Social Activities Coordinator, Amos Baer, will wait for you in the train station at Nahariya and will take you to the bus.

Do we have to leave the Kibbutz at the end of the program or can we stay a few more days sleeping in the Kibbutz?

You will have to vacate your rooms at the end of the program since we have to prepare the rooms for the start of the next program which begins only a few day after your program’s conclusion. If you wish to stay in the Kibbutz after the program ends, there are usually a few apartments available for rent.

How much does it cost to travel from the nearby city of Nahariya to Tel Aviv?

The Current Exchange Rate is Approximately $1.00 USD = 3.5 NIS or New Israeli Shekel
Nahariya to Tel Aviv One Way Regular Ticket = $13 USD
Nahariya to Tel Aviv Round-Trip Regular Ticket = $24 USD
Nahariya to Tel Aviv Round-Trip Student Ticket = $18.70 USD
Visit Israel Railways’ official website online for schedule, tickets and up-to-date rates at: www.rail.co.il/EN

Will we receive a student card from KCDC?

KCDC will not provide you with a student card as Dance Journey dancers/participants. If you have European/American student card, you can usually receive student prices and discounts in Israel for many things.

Can family and friends come to visit me on the kibbutz during the program?

Family and friends are welcome to visit you during the program. We recommend that if they chose to stay overnight, that they rent a room in the kibbutz or in the nearby city of Nahariya. Best that they visit you on weekends and also come to see you perform at the showcases during the last week of the Dance Journey program.

What type of certificate does the Dance Journey program provide participants at the conclusion of the program?

KCDC does not provide any official document nor certificate of completion of the Dance Journey program. However, if you do require any type of document or official letter for your university, dance academy or whichever relevant program, we will happily provide you with such a letter. This document or letter would describe the program, its content and curriculum in depth and has generally been accepted at reputable academic institutions worldwide.

If you would like to rent a room in Kibbutz Ga'aton for you or your family, here are a few options below:

There are currently no families in Kibbutz Ga’aton offering apartments for rent.

What does a weekly schedule look like?

Click here to access a sample weekly schedule that is subject to change.  Note that Fridays and Saturdays are the weekends in Israel and during these days, you have time to relax, visit with friends, travel through the country, or spend time creating and rehearsing in the studios.  There will be week that will also consist of field trips throughout the country and other activities.

Will we have time off or holidays during the Dance Journey program?

Those attending the 10-month program from September thru June, will have 7 days off for vacation between the two semesters.

Those who attend the 10-month program starting in February, will have a longer vacation which will be during the months of July and August.

During the time between each 5-month semester, you will be asked to vacate your accommodation, though we do have special storage for your belongings in the Dance Village during this time period.

All other vacations and holidays will be in accordance to the holiday schedule of Israel which is a maximum of 2 consecutive days at a time. Weekends in Israel or on Fridays and Saturdays as Sunday is a regular workday. During these days, you are usually not working unless rehearsals are scheduled especially before performances and showcases.

Is it possible to visit home for holidays or to attend dance auditions during the Dance Journey program?

We encourage all participants to go and do as many auditions as you can during the Dance Journey program, but there are 2 issues that need to be taken into considerationt:
1.    Visa | Is it possible that if you leave Israel, the immigration authorities will not let you return unless you have a multiple-entry student visa.
2.    The audition date must be coordinated with the Dance Journey program’s Artistic Director as, for example, if there may be a special day of lighting rehearsals during that time of if those dates may be right before a performance.  In that case, if you will plan on attending an audition during such dates, you may or may not participate in a particular section of the show.

How much money is recommended to have in cash upon arrival in Israel?

We recommend that you have approximately 300 ILS (Israeli New Shekel) with you upon arrival in order to cover your travel to the International Dance Village in Kibbutz Ga’aton, Israel.  This includes approximately 48.5 ILS for a train ticket from the train station at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport  to the train station Nahariyah, 60 ILS for a one-way taxi from Nahariyah to Kibbutz Ga’aton in the event that you miss our shuttle, and 50 ILS for a drink and a sandwich.  This is the minimum amount of money required to arrive from the airport to Kibbutz Ga’aton.
Beyond that, the rest of the shopping can be done on a credit card, but we recommend that you always have another 150 ILS in cash as there is generally a minimum payment of 25 ILS when using a credit card.

Will Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company assist me with the visa process?

The visa process and procedure is your responsibility.  We can only assist with some of the application process, but it is your responsibility to seek out the visa needed (if necessary) to enter Israel.  Once you’re in Israel with a tourist visa, we’ll make sure that you receive the visa extension to allow you to stay in Israel for the remainder of the Dance Journey program.