Learn all about Karmiel Dance Festival
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| Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in Israel Series at HebrewPod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Israeli holidays and observances. I’m Eric, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 25, Karmiel Dance Festival |
| The Karmiel Dance Festival - פסטיבל מחול כרמיאל (Festival machol karmiel) occurs every summer, over three days. It hosts thousands of Israeli and foreign dancers - רקדנים (rakdanim). During the festival, approximately 250,000 dancers and visitors flock to the city. |
| Let’s learn about the largest festival in Israel. |
| Now, before we get into more detail, I've got a question for you- |
| Various styles of dance troupes- להקות מחול (lehakot makhol), from different countries, participate in the festival. Can you name a few? |
| If you don't already know, keep listening! The answer will be revealed at the end of this lesson! |
| The city of Carmel is in northern Israel, and it’s the largest city in the central Galilee region. Every year, the city hosts a dance festival that lasts for three days - שלושה ימים (sh’losha yamim). It’s the only dance festival in Israel for amateur foreign dance troupes and public dancing, and it holds a special place in Israeli folklore - פולקלור. However, professional dancers from all over the world also perform at the festival. The festival began in 1988. Today, it features over 100 shows and events every year - הופעות ואירועים (hofaot ve’eiruim), with over 10,000 dancers from around the world participating. |
| Because of its size, the dance festival occurs concurrently, at different venues, like the amphitheater, the stadium - האצטדיון (itztadion), the park, the sports center, and the cultural center. Many of the shows are dedicated to important composers - מלחינים (malchinim) in Israeli culture, such as Sasha Argov, Naomi Shemer, and Avihu Medina. |
| Besides the dance shows, many other activities that are open to the public are conducted at the festival, including mass public dance events and advanced training for dance instructors. Two competitions - תחרויות (taharuyot) are also held at the festival – a main choreography competition, with folkloric dance troupes, and a competition for the selection of the best dance, in which dance groups compete in dances created for the public. |
| In the summer of 2007, the festival celebrated its 20th anniversary. The debut was held that year on the 19th of Av—the “Jewish Valentine’s Day”—under the title “A 20-year-old love”. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| Various styles of dance troupes from different countries participate in the festival. Can you name a few? |
| Dance troupes from Argentina, Canada, Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, Russia, and other countries participate in the festival. Dance styles at the festival include tango, debka, classical and modern dance, jazz, Irish, hip-hop, Hassidic, folk, and more. |
| How was this lesson? Did you learn something interesting? Which style do you like to dance? |
| Leave us a comment letting us know at HebrewPod101.com, and I'll see you in another series! Bye! |
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