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MEMA Dance Theater
By the age of 56, most dancers have long since hung up their dancing shoes and gone gracefully into retirement. Not Alice Dor-Cohen. This impossibly youthful grandmother of two proudly defies both the industry norm and unquestionably proves that she can compete with the best of them.
Alice Dor-Cohen is one of Israel’s most respected contemporary dancers and choreographers. She is a graduate of the Rubin Academy of Dance and Music and has been honored by the Israeli government for her outstanding contribution to Israeli contemporary dance. In 1985 she and her former partner Eli Dor-Cohen were awarded with a first prize from the prestigious Akko Festival for their production, Pink Death.
Alice’s long and successful collaboration with Israel’s acclaimed Batsheva Dance Company began in 1980 when she joined the company as a dancer. Within in two years she was choreographing for the company, becoming their house choreographer in 1982. Over the course of nine years she choreographed five extremely successful and critically acclaimed productions for Batsheva including Doubt Dream, a piece she created which went on to win first prize in the prestigious Gertrude Kraus competition and Neighbors, another highly successful piece which also toured extensively. Following almost a decade with Israel's pre-eminent contemporary dance company, Alice was awarded the prestigious Shapira Prize for her outstanding contribution to Israeli dance. As a member of the Israeli Association of Choreographers, Alice is also a sought after choreography teacher and is in regular demand to present lectures and workshops.
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Workshops
Alice Dor-Cohen has been teaching almost as long as she has been dancing and choreographing. Her relaxed manner and engaging personality make for a dynamic workshop leader for professionals and non-professionals alike. Alice has run a wide variety of workshops which can be tailored to suit almost any group. Her workshop topics cover a broad range of topics including; the connection between dance and spoken word, inter-generational women, and the use of dance to explore emotionally difficult issues such as domestic violence against women. Alice also offers workshops to all-female groups.
A Bit After the Middle
PRODUCTION NOTES
In 2006 , following a 15 year “retirement”, Alice decided to return full time to the dance world and began developing a new piece, A Bit After the Middle – a tongue-in-cheek reference to her age. The piece, which seamlessly blends dance, spoken word and live music, has received funding support from the Israel Ministry of Science Culture and Sport and Omanut La’am has approved her piece for subsidized touring for periphery communities in Israel who would not otherwise be able to afford to bring a performance like this to their communities.
A Bit After the Middle is a moving, highly autobiographical performance that explores some emotionally difficult themes, but ultimately it is a celebration of life and speaks to people – of all ages.
“…Alice Dor-Cohen is well-known for her ground-breaking work which combines dance and theatre. There is no doubt; Alice Dor-Cohen is still a performer. She presents a collage of memories and moments that had an enormous impact on her life and being… she is still an attractive woman, but the great value of this show is in the honesty and the courage of Dor-Cohen’s raw personal exposure.’’- Ha’aretz
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Alice Dor-Cohen – Creator and Performer
Alice was a dancer and choreographer with Batsheva Dance Company from 1980-1989 and is one of Israel’s most respected choreographers and dancers. After a 15 year retirement, she returned full time to the dance world, re-launching with her critically-acclaimed production, A Bit After the Middle.
Shlomit Corri – Dancer
Shlomit trained with the acclaimed Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company’s student program and has worked with a number of leading Israeli choreographers such as Yossi Yungman and Sharona Florsheim.
Tohar Kleiner - Dancer
At just 14 years of age, Tohar is an impressive and talented performer. She came to the attention of Alice Dor-Cohen when she was a dance student in a specialized high school dance stream program in Netanya. Currently, Tohar is studying performing arts, specializing in dance at the Bustan School in Netanya.
Itay Bacharach – Musician and Singer
Itay is a graduate of the Rimon School of Music and a soloist in the band, Weird Days.
Duration: 60 minutes
ADDITIONAL CREDITS
Original music: Itay Bacharach
Dancers: Shlomit Corri and Tohar Kleiner
Costume Design: Avital Lahat
Rehearsal Manager: Gutchy Lau
Special Effects: Emanuel Mirzayoff
Photography and Editing: Yael Wesler
Lighting Design: Dania Zemmer
