Winners’ circle at Machol

Over the weekend, as part of Machol Shalem Dance House’s Jerusalem International Dance Week, winners of the second annual Jerusalem International Choreography Competition were announced.Over 100 applicants from over a dozen countries were received, of which eight were selected for the semi-final round.To consider these works, Machol Shalem’s directors Ruby Edelman and Ofra Idel assembled a panel of judges hailing from many fields. The panel consisted of cultural leaders from around the globe such as choreographer Uri Ivgi; Laurent Van Kote, head of dance of France’s Ministry of Culture and Communication; Zach Granit, head of Culture and Art Administration of Israel’s Ministry of Culture and Sport; Angela Mattox, artistic director of the Portland Institute of Contemporary Art; and Polish critic and panel chair, theoretician Jadwiga Grabowska.After viewing all of the works, the panel awarded first place to French choreographer Jean Gallois for P = mg. Second place went to Israeli dancer and choreographer Ido Batash for his work Bodymagic. Mariko Kakizaki of Japan was awarded third place for Golem Couple. Cash prizes of $4,000, $2,800 and $1,800 accompanied the awards.Jerusalem International Dance Week will continue through Wednesday night with performances by a number of local and international choreographers.

For more information, visit www.macholshalem.org.il.