Dancing over differences

(Video) Israeli artists, Sudanese refugees and migrant workers in south Tel Aviv overcome cultural gaps by finding common language in art, dance

VIDEO - A new venture has Israeli artists joining forces with Sudanese refugees using art and dance as a way to support the African migrant workers' community.

 

Artist and playwright Lior Waterman turned a shelter at Tel Aviv's Levinsky Garden, adjacent to the city's Central Bus Station and a hub of the foreign workers community, into a studio and invited other artists to share their creativity.

 

Painter Natalie Schlosser and multi-talented artist Moti Brecher joined forces with Waterman and created a space that started to attract migrant workers' kids, and later on their their parents and other foreign workers.

 

Shortly thereafter, the cultural meeting point became a center of daily creative energy aiming to support Sudanese refugees and migrant workers.

 

 

"When I came back to Israel Lior asked me to teach the guys the Krumping dance, a new street dance from LA's black community," Schlosser, who is aiming to fulfill her dream and become a dancer, related. "When the kids joined it was clear they were better than us. It's an African dance. Now I'm trying to teach the adults ballet."

 

Artistic wealth

Brecher, a ventriloquist, standup artist and actor, began his involvement at the Levinsky Garden by leading children's workshops on puppet-making and story-telling meetings at the local library.

 

"Together with the children we created the puppet 'Max' I perform with today," Brecher said.

 

"Now I also have fun dancing with the adults. They're innocent, but contribute so much color and artistic wealth. It's wonderful. Israel is an immigration state – it only adds to our cultural diversity."

 

A ballet number created by Schlosser, her sister Mor, Brecher and the Sudanese refugees will be featured as part of a larger show on June 5 showcasing "The Levinsky Garden Classics."

 

The project is a collaborative effort involving the Levinsky Garden Library for migrant workers, the Topaz Foundation, the Yehoshua Rabinowitz Arts Foundation and the Zomer Gallery.