The Suzanne Dellal Center's twentieth anniversary celebrations kick off with an awesome joining of Balkan Beat Box and Barak Marshall's 'Monger'.
By ORI J. LENKINSKIsuzanne dellal center 248.88(photo credit: Courtesy)
The jet-setting musicians of Balkan Beat Box are used to seeing people shake it. In fact, they have made it their business to get us into the groove. Having defined a new, utterly danceable genre, these rock stars have made it around the world a few times over. Thus, they've seen the best moves - from funky to fancy - of international concertgoers.
This coming week, the band and fans alike are in for a huge treat.
Opening two weeks of festivities for The Suzanne Dellal Center's twentieth anniversary, the guys of BBB will join forces with the dancers of choreographer Barak Marshall's Monger for one performance.
And that's one performance only.
From Tokyo to Stockholm, BBB front man Tomer Yosef has seen it all, "We perform all over the world," he said in a recent interview with Billboard (not that one). "Sometimes our shows get really fired up and people get on stage and dance. But it's not quite the same thing. The sync with the music makes the whole thing more united and more unique."
Though this is the band's first appearance with a live dance troupe, they have known Marshall for a long time. Prior his triumphant return to the Israeli dance community, Marshall enjoyed a fruitful career as a singer in California.
"We met Barak in L.A.," Yosef explained. "We did a show and he actually came on stage with us - he and his mom, an amazing Yemenite singer. There was no dancing involved but we really clicked."
Since Marshall has returned to Israel, he has achieved celebrity status - and fast. Monger, which was commissioned and produced by The Suzanne Dellal Center in 2008, had created a palpable buzz long before it made it onto the stage. The premiere only brought on further hype, leaving dance crowds forever uttering Marshall's name. His use of BBB tracks was one main selling point of the piece full of his twitchy movements, executed by some Tel Aviv's finest performers. Set to BBB's funky beats, Monger was nothing if not cool. The show has recently returned from a tour in Madrid and has several engagements lined up for the coming season.
Also frequently on the road, a recent show in Tel Aviv made a big impact on Yosef. Headlining Tel Aviv's Earth Day celebration at Rabin Square brought the group to a new high. The streets were filled with thousands of revelers, dancing wildly for a good cause. "We have been touring for four years. That was the most amazing show. It was a peak for me personally," Yosef said.
Having conquered their hometown, the band is jazzed about this new experience. "We've never done anything like this before. It's really fresh and new. I think it's going to be great," Yosef stated. And, if Tomer Yosef thinks something's going to be cool, well, it most likely will be.
BBB heads on stage with Barak Marshall's Monger at 9 p.m. on May 14 at the Suzanne Dellal Center. Tickets cost NIS 149. To purchase and for more information call (03) 510-5656 or visit suzannedellal.org.il
if(catID != 151){
var cont = `Take Israel home with the new Jerusalem Post Store
