Rina Schenfeld
Encyclopedia
Rina Schenfeld is an Israeli choreographer and dancer, one of the leaders in creating an Israeli style in modern dance.
As prima ballerina and choreographer of the Batsheva dance company from its founding in 1964 to 1978, she achieved world renown, and was called by the New York Times "one of the most important artists of our generation." Although more than 70, Schenfeld continues to choreograph and perform.
in 1938, Schenfeld began studying classical ballet at the age of 12. After seeing a performance by world-famous dancer Martha Graham
, she switched to modern. She studied dance at the Juilliard School
in New York. She danced in Israel with the Lyric Theater of Anna Sokolov, and in the United States, where she worked with Graham and other leading choreographers.
In 1964, Graham and Baroness Batsheva De Rothschild founded Batsheva, and chose Schenfeld as prima ballerina and choreographer. Schenfeld led the corps to worldwide fame, with works by renowned international choreographers as well as her own creations.
In 1978 Schenfeld left Batsheva to found the Rina Schenfeld Dance Theater. She taught a generation of Israeli dancers, and created an eclectic style that incorporated elements of dance theater, Bauhaus, modern and classical. One original element in her choreography is the use of physical objects in the dance. "Her use of objects guides the imagination to places beyond the dance," writes a reviewer in Dance Life. "The objects lead to a unique experience and deepen the sense of motion."
In 2005, she was voted the 198th-greatest Israeli of all time, in a poll by the Israeli news website Ynet
to determine whom the general public considered the 200 Greatest Israelis.
As prima ballerina and choreographer of the Batsheva dance company from its founding in 1964 to 1978, she achieved world renown, and was called by the New York Times "one of the most important artists of our generation." Although more than 70, Schenfeld continues to choreograph and perform.
Biography
Born in Tel AvivTel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
in 1938, Schenfeld began studying classical ballet at the age of 12. After seeing a performance by world-famous dancer Martha Graham
Martha Graham
Martha Graham was an American modern dancer and choreographer whose influence on dance has been compared with the influence Picasso had on modern visual arts, Stravinsky had on music, or Frank Lloyd Wright had on architecture.She danced and choreographed for over seventy years...
, she switched to modern. She studied dance at the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
in New York. She danced in Israel with the Lyric Theater of Anna Sokolov, and in the United States, where she worked with Graham and other leading choreographers.
In 1964, Graham and Baroness Batsheva De Rothschild founded Batsheva, and chose Schenfeld as prima ballerina and choreographer. Schenfeld led the corps to worldwide fame, with works by renowned international choreographers as well as her own creations.
In 1978 Schenfeld left Batsheva to found the Rina Schenfeld Dance Theater. She taught a generation of Israeli dancers, and created an eclectic style that incorporated elements of dance theater, Bauhaus, modern and classical. One original element in her choreography is the use of physical objects in the dance. "Her use of objects guides the imagination to places beyond the dance," writes a reviewer in Dance Life. "The objects lead to a unique experience and deepen the sense of motion."
In 2005, she was voted the 198th-greatest Israeli of all time, in a poll by the Israeli news website Ynet
Ynet
Ynet is the most popular Israeli news and general content website. It is owned by the same conglomerate that operates Yediot Ahronot, the country's secondleading daily newspaper...
to determine whom the general public considered the 200 Greatest Israelis.
Key works
- La Sylphide (2011), a multimedia work that integrates video, poetry and electronic music with the dance.
- Dance to the end of love (2008), Schenfeld's first multimedia work, including also videoart and singing.
- Silk threads (1983), to music by Menachem Tsur and Steve ReichSteve ReichStephen Michael "Steve" Reich is an American composer who together with La Monte Young, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass is a pioneering composer of minimal music...
. Dancers incorporate streams of cloth, branches, and an aquarium.
- Cans and hair, sticks and balloons (1980). The dancer appears with a large tin on her head, and beats time on the tin as she dances.