June 22, 2017 – (Becket, MA) Based in Israel, Roy Assaf Dance makes its U.S. debut with a program of clever and heartfelt works in the Doris Duke Theatre July 12-16. A rising choreographic star, Assaf has been commissioned by companies across the globe including Batsheva Dance Company, The Royal Swedish Ballet, National Dance Company Wales, and LA Dance Project. The program opens with Assaf’s embracing duet Six Years Later which is praised for its “beauty, nuances, and intricate, astute movements” (Ora Brafman, Jerusalem Post), and closes with his powerful all-male trio The Hill, inspired by veterans’ experiences and based on the Hebrew song “Givat Hatachmoshet”.
The rich history of Israeli dance at Jacob’s Pillow dates back to 1951 with the Jerusalem-born soloist Hadassah, and since then has included work by Pearl Lang (1970 and 1974), Batsheva de Rothschild with Martha Graham (1956), and the U.S. company debuts of Inbal Pinto in 2001 and Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar’s L-E-V in 2013.
“I’m so excited to introduce this company to the United States and to Jacob’s Pillow” commented Pillow Director Pamela Tatge. “Roy Assaf brings a gorgeous duet that takes us into a relationship six years in the making, followed by a work that draws us into the power and meaning of a band of brothers at war.”
For the full press release, click here.