Aluminum: Mind over Metal

Israel's Dollbeat Theater-Dance Group presents Aluminum, the troupe's latest staged effort combining movement, dance, and visual theater. Headed by Israeli dancer and creator Ilan Azriel, the troupe uses the unusual medium of aluminum to create a new and unique world in which to dance. Through the use of special effects, creative mechanics, and acrobatic dance, inanimate objects come to life with emotion and personality. "The show is interdisciplinary in nature," said troupe founder and creative director Azriel. "What we do is we take an object and give it life through dance, music and pantomime." Azriel was born in 1968 in Dimona. For many years, he danced in the Inbal Dance Theater in Tel Aviv and, later, in the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company. In 1997, Azriel independently established the Dollbeat Group which has staged performances that combine dance, music, puppetry and masks. Aluminum is a new experiment in media for the director. "I decided that aluminum was an ideal substance to use in the show since dancers could enter aluminum bags and give them life. "It's a festive show in which the audience plays an active role," Azriel added. Azriel doesn't pretend to have some grand universal message embedded in his show. "There is no depth in the story, nothing political. Just an aesthetically pleasing performance," he said. Aluminum has also been recently invited on a November tour of Argentina. Produced by Fernando Moya, owner of the largest cultural events production company in South America, the group will put on 23 performances in 10 cities throughout the country, including Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Mendoza, and more. Before their departure 'Aluminum' will perform in Herzliya on Monday September 19, and Thursday September 22; in the Yahalom Theater in Ramat Gan on Saturday September 24, and in Afula's Cultural Center on Friday October 14.