Diamonds in the rough

Yasmeen Godder gives the public a rare opportunity to see three new works in progress.

By ORI J. LENKINSKI
Shuli Enosh ‘Works In Progress’ (photo credit: Courtesy)
Shuli Enosh ‘Works In Progress’
(photo credit: Courtesy)
It is no secret that in order to make a dance performance, artists spend months in the studio. Over endless hours of rehearsing, warming up, filming, editing, composing movement and matching it to music, dance performances are whittled from abstract ideas to physical sequences. In the local dance world, where performances come and go very quickly, feedback often comes too late to make any significant changes. For this reason, more and more choreographers have come to incorporate works-in-progress showings into their calendar.
With big companies like that of Yasmeen Godder, the opportunity to take in the step before the premiere of a performance is often left to close friends and collaborators. The general public is very seldom invited to see the things that don’t make it onto the big stage. However, this weekend, Godder and her fellow artists will extend an invitation to do just that.
In a two-night engagement titled “Primary Three,” hosted by Tel Aviv’s Tmuna Theater, Dalia Chaimsky, Shuli Enosh and Itzik Giuli will expose the rough diamonds they are attempting to polish in a program of works in progress.
Of the evening, Godder writes, “We are excited to share with you this unique project of the company, in which we are exposing three new works in progress by company members. Our intention is to allow the audience to have a peek at works that are still in development and in the process of discovering their particular language.”
In every one of Godder’s programs, she gives credit to her dancers as collaborators. Chaimsky has been working with her for many years. They began their professional relationship more than five years ago in the production I Feel Funny Today. She then joined Godder on the creative journey for Storm End Come. For her performance in that piece, Chaimsky was granted the Culture Ministry’s Award for Excellence in Dance by a Single Performer. This past season, Chaimsky joined Godder on stage in the female trio See Her Change. For this new evening, Chaimsky has put on the choreographer’s hat for the first time with the solo piece any-body-home.
Perhaps the most shocking thing about Chaimsky is the difference between her refined, elegant presence in real life and the powerful creature that erupts from within her on stage. In Godder’s works, as well as in the works of other local choreographers, Chaimsky is a force to be reckoned with on stage, seeming to have no boundaries or inhibitions.
Reflect/Me by Shuli Enosh and Yonatan Bar-Or is also a solo.
Where Chaimsky blossoms into a lovely beast on stage, Enosh turns into a writhing, shouting, dazzling goddess. She, too, has become a familiar face in Godder’s creations.
She was a creating dancer in Singular Sensation, Storm End Come and, most recently, See Her Change and has performed in Love Fire.
Itzik Giuli will present Untitled, a solo to be performed by Godder.
Giuli has been the dramaturge and co-artistic director of all of Godder’s works since 1997. An actor and director, Giuli brings a cohesive thread to Godder’s in-your-face choreography. Though he has been a major voice in all of Godder’s works, this program will mark the first time that Giuli presents a singular work with the company.
Come next week, with two performances and a handful of feedback under their belts, the artists will return to the studio to continue their processes. Without a doubt, the experience of performing these works will alter the trajectory that each artist was on. In the future, Godder intends to present this evening as a new program in the company’s repertoire.
“Primary Three” will be presented at Tmuna Theater on August 30 and 31. For more information, visit www.yasmeengodder.com.