The Israel Festival, a four-week season of dance, classical music, dance, and theater, opened last night (Israel Festival English site). Last night we watched one of the opening performances in Zion Square, Jerusalem. The Australian dance troupe, “Strange Fruit,” performed Three Belles, one of seven works in their repertoire. The performance was part dance, part circus — graceful, hypnotic, and sometimes humorous, movements set to music, performed on 5-meter flexible poles.
The dancers shinned up the poles in pantaloons, strapped their legs into the loops, hoisted hoop skirts on pulleys and fastened them around their waists. I love the costumes, especially the elaborate hats.
Video of Three Belles:
