Sutra by Sidi Larbi Cherkouai is a must-see. Half Belgian and half Moroccan, the choreographer is a master of set design and atmosphere. His work is as physically thrilling as it is psychologically intriguing. For Sutra, he enlisted British artist Antony Gormley and Polish composer Szymon Brzoska, as well as a group of Shaolin monks. To create this piece, he traveled to the Shaolin Temple in China, where he studied the intricate movements used by the monks in their unique brand of martial arts. He then added wooden boxes, designed by Gormley. Throughout the piece, he and the monks lie inside the boxes, stand on top of them, tilt and spin them. The effect is, in a word, stunning."} 63:{"position":7,"content":"

Sidi Larbi Cherkouai will present another piece during the festival entitled Eastman vzw, which is performed by his company of dancers."} 64:{"position":8,"content":"Another stellar performance is Carmen by South African choreographer Dada Masilo. Masilo is a star in the dynamic Johannesburg dance community. At 25 years of age, Masilo has already created several successful pieces, including her interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, called Umfula Wa Ma Dada. The piece includes 12 dancers, including Masilo."} 65:{"position":9,"content":"Finally, enjoying home advantage is the premiere of the Maria Kong Dance Company’s Miss Brazil. The program is separated into two parts: Miss by the four members of the company and Brazil by guest choreographer Idan Cohen. Cohen

A fall flurry of dancers

This year’s Tel Aviv Dance Festival features an impressive array of international avant-garde dance groups