What do Israel's dancers think about performing in settlements?

Tempers have been flaring recently in the world of Israeli culture in the wake of the actors' boycott of Ariel. It kicked off last Friday with the publication of a letter stating that the undersigned performers would not perform in the town, which lies beyond the Green Line. Responses from a range of figures in theater and music flooded the media, explaining whether or not they would appear in Ariel's new cultural center, and why.

Out of curiosity, we decided to see what people in the field of dance thought about the boycott, and whether residents of Ariel will get a chance to see the prominent troupes and artists working in this booming area, Israel's most successful stage art. The results show mixed reactions by companies that have already been scheduled to appear in the new hall: the Israel Ballet and the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company.

Berta Yampolsky, artistic director, Israel Ballet:

"The Israel Ballet will perform everywhere it is invited in the State of Israel. As long as the government has not decided otherwise, Ariel is in the State of Israel. One shouldn't mix politics with art. It disturbs me very much and I think cultural institutions should appear before everyone who wants to absorb culture, especially those supported by the Culture Ministry. We were notified when the new theater in Ariel was dedicated, and if I am not mistaken we already have a date to appear in the coming season, and we're very happy about it."

	Berta Yampolsky.
	Photo by: Yanai Yehiel

Dina Eldor, general director of the Batsheva Dance Company:

"The question of whether or not we would perform in Ariel is completely hypothetical for us. We are deep into a work by Sharon Eyal and feverish preparations for a tour, and haven't given an opinion. I can't answer officially for the troupe. If we have to deal with the issue, all of us will meet - the dancers, staff and up to the director - and discuss it."

Noa Dar, choreographer and director, Noa Dar Dance Group:

"I don't perform in the territories and would not accept an invitation to do so. I don't want to lend a hand to something I oppose - the occupation and the settlements which, to my mind, are illegal. They create facts on land we will have to return, which makes coming to an agreement with the Palestinians difficult. It is obvious why one shouldn't appear there. It's not ours, not a place which is, from my point of view, a part of the State of Israel and I don't want to support settlement there with performances. I would do the same as the actors who signed the letter."

Avshalom Pollak, choreographer and director, the Inbal Pinto and Avshalom Pollak Company:

"The way the story echoed in the media is amazing considering the reverberations that should have been heard about something much more important - completing the peace process. The group of people who signed what they signed expressed a positive, earnest desire to take a stand about something which is, essentially, stuck in place, and to air things which no one pays attention to, because there really is a kind of hibernation going on here. I think the step taken by the signatories basically says that until a political solution is found, they are taking a stand - refusing to be part of this blindness to creating facts on the ground.

"A few months ago, we made contact with the Ramallah Contemporary Dance Festival and offered to hold workshops there. They said 'no' very clearly, and I completely understood. I didn't go wild; it did not make me feel that they were boycotting me. I understand this situation and where it comes from. But in the case of Ariel, I feel that an understanding of this sort does not exist when someone comes and says, 'I am not willing to perform in a place which I feel is questionable in a significant way with regard to our lives here.' I wish everything was wonderful and everyone could perform everywhere, but it may be that at this moment one must say, 'Wait, pause, I'm not participating in this.'"

If you are invited, will you perform in Ariel?

"I am one part of the troupe and not the chief decision-maker. And just as when we appear in a particular place on a Saturday, and one of us observes the Sabbath and does not want to appear, I take that into consideration; it has influence. The troupe is composed of a group of people, each of whose decisions count in whether we appear or not. I would take my own steps, but the moment you have an organization behind you, and we are a public troupe, then other people have to give their opinions too."

Natan Tal, general manager of the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company:

"This is an important argument revealing a genuine debate taking place in Israeli society; it didn't start yesterday but has accompanied the conflict all along, since the state was established. Israeli society decided that it is pluralistic and that it supports culture. These two decisions obligate it on the one hand to grant artistic freedom to artists, including the right to express opinions, and on the other hand to include everyone by offering a free platform to everyone and not by excluding anyone. We in the troupe think it is best not to use boycotts in this conversation, no matter which side calls for them. In our schedule of Israeli performances in the upcoming season, we will appear in Ariel."

When the offer was made, was there any room for doubt?

"When it comes to a solo artist, the tendency is that they will make the decision themselves. But with a theater or dance company, while there is room for self-expression, there are also commitments to the group as a whole. If you participate in a show you don't necessarily express your personal opinion - you are part of a wider body that expresses a range of opinions and doesn't decide at the individual level. In any case I took responsibility in this matter. There were no doubts about it."

Noa Wertheim, executive and artistic director, Vertigo:

"I personally would go anywhere culture is welcome without getting involved in politics, because I don't want to judge who is legal and who is not; I have no mandate to decide this. I wouldn't insert my political opinion. If I was invited to appear there, I would go there happily. I would, of course, first consult the dancers, because I don't want to insult or hurt anyone. But I personally have no problem appearing in the territories, not in our communities or those of Palestinians. I'd be glad to play Bethlehem, and Ariel too.

"I really don't want to get involved with politics; I want to be involved with human beings, and culture and art. If a criminal in jail needs art, and it might open a part of his soul, I would go there. I wouldn't say 'Get him out of jail,' but I would create a dialogue with him, because for me one of the roles of art is to create this dialogue, which is fascinating to me. Why block it? Have artists become politicians?"

Talia Paz, choreographer:

"I personally don't mix art and politics. Everyone in Ariel pays taxes; part of the salaries and budget for theaters comes from there. I don't think we should punish them by saying, 'We aren't performing for you.' I think that if an artist wants to express protest in one manner or another, he must find the proper way to do so. One can write a political play; it's possible to create protest in many forms. But the moment you say, 'We're not performing there,' that doesn't do the trick. They [the actors] receive nice salaries and a hefty budget, most of which comes from taxpayers, including those in Ariel, and I don't think it's fair; Tel Aviv is not the be-all and end-all. It's important to reach these places too, outside Tel Aviv, and political protest can be expressed in other ways."

Ranana Raz, choreographer:

"I support the actors completely. I think it is legitimate for artists to express their opinions on this subject. The fact that the theaters are supported by the government is not a sufficient reason. They haven't been bought out by the government. In my opinion this is not a political question but rather one of conscience, and so it seems legitimate to me that a person would act according to his conscience. There is no doubt that the settlements are a complex issue for the country we live in, and I understand and take the side of people who do not want to perform beyond the Green Line.

"I personally have received invitations several times to give workshops there and have refused. One reason is that it scares me physically to travel there and also because it is difficult for me ethically. I don't think we have to keep culture from reaching these people, and I'd be glad if they would attend any other place I conduct workshops and I could contribute my time and knowledge."

Sahar Azimi, choreographer:

"I think a very important discussion has begun over the connection between politics and art; my own opinion is that art and politics go together, and artists have an important role in society on the social-political level. It isn't exercised so much because we are such an escapist society, and use culture and art to escape from this situation. We have forgotten that the role of theater is to express criticism. I'd be glad if these theater people would make statements and criticism through art and take it to Ariel, appear there with criticism of Ariel. It's like the feeling I have when we are boycotted by foreigners and they don't appear in Israel. It doesn't offer a solution and doesn't create a dialogue or discussion; it completely separates the sides from each other. I believe we are talking about very intelligent and creative people, and if they have a statement to make, they should make it through their art and take it to Ariel. Boycotts feel to me like a very childish and unintelligent solution. I am not sure whether I would perform there. If I have something to say and work that says it, I will go. At the moment I feel I am not ready to travel and entertain the residents of Ariel."