Out and About: Top 10 things to do

“Cargo Cult,” an exhibition in Bat Yam, features works by a number of Israeli artists inspired by a tribal practice.

Cargo Cult (photo credit: Zoya Cherkeski)
Cargo Cult
(photo credit: Zoya Cherkeski)
FILM
1. JACK REACHER
Jack Reacher is based on Lee Child’s 2005 novel One Shot. The film is about an Iraq War sniper accused of mowing down a crowd of people in Pittsburgh.
Reacher, a former US Army military police officer, just shows up, “summoned” because of a connection with this sniper who snapped, first in Iraq and now, apparently, in Pittsburgh. Written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, with Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Richard Jenkins, Robert Duvall and Werner Herzog.
At cinemas around the country DANCE
2. FEEL THE RHYTHM
One of the first descendants of the international craze for Irish dance is Spirit of the Dance, visiting Israel for a cross-country tour beginning this week. The show transcends the borders of Ireland and delves into many different genres of world music. Blending together salsa, tango and flamenco beats with Irish music, Spirit of the Dance has been known to quicken the heartbeat of audience members of all ages and nationalities. Performances will take place in Kibbutz Yifat, Beersheba, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Kfar Blum, Kiryat Motzkin and Haifa.December 27 – January 5. For tickets and more information: www.bimot.co.il or www.spiritofthedance.com
EXHIBITIONS
3. FOLLOW THE SILK THREAD
A new exhibition in Beit Hatfutsot is devoted to Bukharan Jewry. The show, “Threads of Silk,” chronicles the annals of the Jewish community of Bukhara, looking into the roots of the community and featuring items of traditional clothing and other articles, such as embroidery, jewelry, old and contemporary photographs and historical documents.
Until June 30. For more information: (03) 745-7800 or
4. VIEW NATURE’S GLORY
A photographic exhibition of works by David Monsonego opens Friday at the Beit Gabriel art gallery at the southern tip of the Kinneret. Monsonego has specialized in wildlife and nature photography over the last three decades, and the current “Photographer without Borders” exhibition features works he has taken in places around the world, such as Africa, the Far East and Central America.
Until January 19. For more information: (04) 675-1187 or www.betgabriel.co.il.
5. FLY CARGO TO BAT YAM
“Cargo Cult,” an exhibition in Bat Yam, features works by a number of Israeli artists inspired by a tribal practice. The artists include Michael Groveman, Arcadi Greenman and the Neo-Barbison Group of Natasha Zorbova, Anna Lukshevski, Zoya Cherkeski, Asia Lukin and Olga Kondina.
The exhibition is curated by Max Lomberg.
At the opening (tonight) there will be a musical slot performed by pianist Daniel Sarid, bass player Igor Krotogolov and drummer Ariel Armoni.Until April 6, Bat Yam Museum Gallery. For more information: (03) 659-1140 and www.bat-yam.muni.il 6. GET JAZZED UP
The Latrun Monastery will host a concert fronted by veteran jazz pianist Leonid Ptashka on Saturday at noon. Ptashka, along with Paraguayan vocalist Moses Si, doublebass player Valery Liftz and percussionist Yvgeni Maestrovski, will perform a wide-ranging program that takes in gospel and jazz with some touches of soul music.
For tickets and more information: (02) 535-6954
THEATER
7. RACE TO HAIFA
The Haifa Theater’s new production is David Mamet’s Race, about a high-powered firm of attorneys – one white, one African-American – plus an African-American intern, who take on a case of sexual harassment brought by an African-American woman against a powerful white man. Taking part are Norman Issa, Rami Hoiberger and Sharon Alexander.From Saturday. For tickets and more information: (04) 860-0500 and www.ht1.co.il
MIXED BAG
8. BE BOHEMIAN
This weekend the Tiltan School of Design and Visual Communication will open its doors for its Nude on Campus event. For six hours, the three floors of the Haifa school will be filled with artists and nude models. Canvases, clay, paint brushes, computers and cameras will all be on hand to capture the moonlit curves of the bodies on display. The event is open to artists from all fields, backgrounds and skill levels. Spectators are asked to come to the event fully clothed and will be permitted to stay for the entire duration if they so desire.
For more information, visit www.tiltan.co.il.DANCE
9. ENJOY A RIO EXPERIENCE
The Deborah Colker Dance Company of Brazil will visit Israel in late January for a twocity tour. The Rio de Janeiro-based ensemble was founded in 1993 when Colker gathered a group of dancers in the halls of a local school. The company was almost immediately recognized as viable force in the arts.
Among her many achievements, Colker is the first woman to have directed a show for Cirque du Soleil.
January 21 and 22 at the Jerusalem Theater; and January 23-26 at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center. For more information: www.jerusalem-theatre.co.il and www.israelopera.co.il.
THEATER
10. HAVE A ‘LOVERLY’
TIME My Fair Lady, Lerner and Loewe’s perennial favorite, returns to Encore! Educational Theatre Company. A musical treat for the entire family, with a cast of 45 and an orchestra of 14.January 3 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Hirsch Theater, Beit Shmuel, 6 Shama Street, Jerusalem; January 6 at 8 p.m. at Heichal Hatarbut, Netanya; January 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Heichal Hatarbut, Nesher; January 13 at 8 p.m. at the Givatayim Theater. Tickets online at www.encore-etc.com or call 054-578-9006