Waterworld

Pinto and Pollack introduce a third piece into their well respected repertory - Hydra.

By ORI J. LENKINSKI
When it comes to imagination, Inbal Pinto and Avshalom Pollack are pros. Their creations Oyster and Shaker are two of the most successful dance pieces to come out of Israel in the past many years. Their productions are colorful, whimsical and technically flawless. Having recently returned from a two month tour in North America, Pinto and Pollack introduce a third piece into their well respected repertory - Hydra. Having premiered earlier this year as part of the Israel Festival at Jerusalem's Sherover Theater, the piece will now reach a broader audience in the coming weeks with performances in Tel Aviv and Netanya. Hydra draws its inspiration from the works of beloved Japanese poet Kenji Miyazawa, known for his fantastical and enchanting style. Miyazawa, who died in 1933, left behind a legacy of literary treasures, prose and children's tales, most of which were published posthumously. While success evaded Miyazawa during his lifetime, his work is experiencing resurgence in modern day Japan. It is fitting that Pinto and Pollack, who are able to sweep audiences away to the inside of a snow globe or an old fashioned circus, should expand their artistic repertoire by referencing the ethereal work of Miyazawa. Prior to Hydra's Japanese premiere they explained, "Miyazawa often takes readers on a journey, and we also want to take the audiences on a journey of fantasy through our creative stage." The creation process took the company on a journey of its own, beginning in the summer of 2007 at the Suzanne Dellal Center (where the company is based) and continued to Japan in October of the same year. The work has been co-produced by groups in Japan, Israel and Switzerland. While in Japan, the company was hosted by the Saitama Arts Foundation. Hydra premiered in November of last year at the impressive Saitama Arts Theater, outside of Tokyo. For SAF, the collaboration was a first, breaking from their norm of presenting finished works by dance masters. The shower of praise generated in the aftermath proves it to have been a worthy experiment. Pinto and Pollak called on renowned Japanese dancers Kaiji Moriyama and Shintaro Oue to join forces with the company in developing this piece. Now, in its second round of performances, Hydra features dancers Lazaro Godoy and Arthur Astman. Godoy is a recent and warmly welcomed addition to the Israeli dance community. A Juilliard graduate, Godoy spent several years as a company member of Bern Ballet before moving to Tel Aviv. Astman was an integral member of Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company until this past year. He is a cast member of Barak Marshall's Monger and was the second place winner of the television program Born To Dance in 2008. Both now share the stage with the phenomenal dancers of the Inbal Pinto Dance Company. Scored by Bach, Seigen Ono, Michael Convertino and others, the piece has an overwhelming sense of nostalgia, mixed with subtle humor. Hydra, which addresses the latent beauty in unfulfilled desire and promises not kept, has a movement language all of its own. Viewers need only to show up to feel a part of this unique created world. Its "hypnotizing beauty" speaks to the most imaginative part of each of us, the part that sees bears in clouds and dreams of flying. Hydra takes the stage at Tel Aviv's Suzanne Dellal Center on Dec. 25 and 26. For more information call (03) 510-5656 or visit suzannedellal.org.il and at Netanya's Heichal Hatarbut on Dec. 27, (09) 830-8800.