Arts in brief: Local exposure to dance

Local exposure to dance

Walking around Tel Aviv, one may notice that the number of tourists has dropped dramatically. However, that will all change. The annual International Exposure Festival will kick off in the middle of this week, luring dance programmers, company managers and producers to the Suzanne Dellal Center.

Each year, masses of dance professionals get together for five jam-packed days of performances. The hope is to capture what the past year has added to the rich repertoire of Israeli dance. Many of the international guests are on the hunt for companies and pieces to invite abroad and will be keeping a close eye on prospective new talents.

The festival performances are open to the public, with reduced ticket rates. So even if you don’t have a theater abroad where you can host Israeli choreographers, International Exposure will offer a unique, condensed period in which one can take in the highlights of the past 12 months.

International Exposure will take place from December 5- 9. For more information, visit www.suzannedellal.org.il.

• Ori J. Lenkinski

FD sufferers charity show

On Thursday at 8 p.m., the South Hasharon Hechal Hatarbut auditorium will host a gala charity show for the Israel Association for Familial Dysautonomia (FD). The fundraiser features an impressive lineup of artists and acts from a range of genres, including flamenco dance company Viento, percussion-dance outfit Tararam and the Magic of Ireland dance group. The evening will be emceed by veteran TV news anchor and show presenter Dalia Mazor, who has a strong personal interest in helping FD sufferers.

Her daughter, Shelly, died of FD, almost 40 years ago, when she was just two years old.

FD is a rare genetic ailment that primarily affects Ashkenazi Jews, and damages the autonomic nervous system.

The symptoms can include an inability to produce tears, and after the age of about seven months, problems with swallowing, erratic blood pressure, and spinal curvature.

In recent years progress has been made with clinical research into a possible cure for FD, with the hope that, at the very least, it will be possible to alleviate some of the symptoms and to enable sufferers to live longer.

For tickets and more information about the show: (03) 900-5757, (03) 900-0655/3 or www.heichal.ds.il.

For more information about the association, or to make a donation: (08) 956-0800 and www.fdisrael.org.il.

Donations can also be made directly to association’s bank account: Account number 23612, Bank Hapoalim, branch 702, Naveh Sha’anan, Haifa.

• Barry Davis

Beit Hatfutsot to open new exhibit

A comprehensive exhibition devoted to the remarkable story of Bukharan Jewry will open at Beit Hatfutsot on January 4, 2013. The exhibition, called “Threads of Silk,” tells the story of an ancient Jewish community living along the Silk Road, and reveals its outstanding economic, cultural and spiritual achievements.

This community prides itself on its long and impressive history, which dates back to the exile of the Ten Tribes of Israel or, according to other sources, to Persian Jewry. This exhibition features artworks, sumptuous clothing, objects, embroidery, jewelry, historical and contemporary photographs, documents, and film footage that capture the customs, ceremonies, beliefs, culture and aspirations of this rich and multifaceted community. • Jerusalem Post staff Bachelorette takes a Jewish hubby Last season’s Bachelorette, Ashley Hebert, and a Jewish construction manager from New York, J.P. Rosenbaum, were married in a Jewish wedding ceremony on Saturday in Pasadena, California, according to reports. ABC will air a two-hour wedding special on December 16.

The couple became engaged on the finale of the seventh season of The Bachelorette in August 2011.

• JTA

Katzenberg receives honorary Oscar

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Hollywood producer Jeffrey Katzenberg received an honorary Oscar for his charitable work on Saturday at a star-studded gala that kicked off the movie awards season and bestowed film industry gold on three other industry veterans.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences annually hands out its Governors Awards to people who have made an impact on Hollywood.

This year, the honorary Oscars went to Katzenberg, stuntman Hal Needham, documentary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker and arts advocate George Stevens Jr. They were recognized at a black-tie affair that brought out stars such as Annette Bening, Kirk Douglas and Steven Spielberg.

Katzenberg, a former chairman of Walt Disney Co’s movie division and the founder and chief executive of Dreamworks Animation, was given a Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his fundraising efforts for a range of charitable causes.

“Jeffrey has no problem asking you for like, way too much money,” actor Will Smith joked in a speech during the ceremony.

Katzenberg, who has helped raise funds for the Motion Picture & Television Fund and the University of Southern California’s Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education, said he owed his award to the generosity of those in Hollywood who gave alongside him.