In their 13th year of showcasing world-renowned artists in a vibrant celebration of the performing arts, the Chutzpah! Festival has unveiled another amazing the line-up of electrifying music, riveting theatre and breath-taking dance scheduled for presentation from February 7 – March 3, 2013.

The popular multi-faceted Festival opens with a full evening of dance, featuring a Canadian Premiere choreographed by Itzik Galili and danced by BC-born Lesley Telford and Spain’s Miguel Olivera, as well as a new work, Brittle Failure, by Lesley Telford with Japanese scenographer Yoko Seyama. Filling out the program is BC’s own The 605 Collective. Chutzpah! also presents a collaborative program that brings together the sensibilities of two cutting-edge dance companies, Sidra Bell Dance New York and San Francisco-based LEVYdance, offering audiences a “two for one” East Coast/West Coast experience. There’s even more thrilling dance by the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company, a leading Israeli company, led by choreographer Rami Be’er. Opening for Kibbutz is a remount of Israeli American choreographer Barak Marshall’s gorgeous duet Zion, performed by Vancouver’s own James Gnam and Rebecca Margolick.

Internationally-celebrated music is also a staple of Chutzpah’s programming. 2013 featured artists include Israel/New York’s Yemen Blues (Venue), offering a fascinating mixture of traditional Yemenite melodies with blues, jazz and funk, flavoured by West Africa and enhanced modern compositions; the Itamar Borochov Quartet (Cory Weeds Cellar Jazz Club) in its Canadian premiere is internationally recognized for innovative jazz with its unique trumpet sound and Arabic/Pan-African musical sensibilities; the Idan Raichel Project Acoustic Show (Vogue Theatre), a blend of African, Latin American, Caribbean and Middle Eastern sounds, coupled with a spectacular live show, offering a message of love and tolerance;  and Klezmerata Fiorintina from Italy. More musical offerings include the Polish group SHOFAR who combine Hasidic music with free jazz; the Olga Mieleszczuk Ensemble who focus on Jewish music of Ashkenazi roots; War, Love and Loss, a concert of new works by the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra; and Music in Internment, a co-presentation with the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre.

Plus brilliant theatre and  film, including Haunted written by Daniel Karasik (winner of the 2011 Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition) a  Touchstone Theatre production and directed by Katrina Dunn; as well as The Yellow Ticket – a live multimedia concert featuring one of the world’s foremost klezmer fiddlers performing her original score for the 1918 silent film; and Three Hysterical Broads Off Their Medication, a stand-up show that will give you an inside look at the comedic minds of three of the most insanely funny women to ever hit the stage; Judy Gold, Dana Eagle, and Cory Kahaney.

DANCE

Lesley Telford and Itzik Galili

with The 605 Collective opening

In honour of Lisa Nemetz

Produced by Korzo Theatre + Cadance Festival, Netherlands, Festival Madrid en Danza+ 2013 Chutzpah! with residency support from Teatro Canal, Madrid.

Thursday Feb 7 @ 8pm

Saturday Feb 9 @ 9pm

Sunday Feb 10 @ 7pm

Post show talkback Feb 10

 

AMP

Sidra Bell Dance New York + LEVYdance

Provocative New York choreographer Sidra Bell and San Francisco-based Benjamin Levy of LEVYdance share this evening of brainy, exuberant dance, showcasing the unique sensibilities of both East and West Coast experiences. Each company comes with its own distinct personality reflecting the aesthetics and cultures of the companies themselves.

Saturday Feb 16 @ 8:00pm

Sunday Feb 17 @ 7:00pm

Monday Feb 18 @ 8:00pm

Post show talkback Feb 17

 

Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company – If at All

Barak Marshall duet opening – Zion

Back after highly successful shows at 2011 Chutzpah! in their North American premiere of If at All

Wednesday Feb 20 @ 8pm

Thursday Feb 21 @ 8pm

Saturday Feb 23 @ 8pm

Sunday Feb 24 @ 2pm

Post show talkback Feb 23

 

MUSIC

Klezmerata Fiorentina

Klezmerata Fiorentina is back for two shows with new repertoire after their 2011 Chutzpah! sold-out show. Featuring four principal players from the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale, a leading symphony and opera orchestra in Florence, Klezmerata Fiorentina was formed in 2005 to develop a concert version of traditional Ukrainian-Jewish instrumental music – the heritage of the group’s founder Igor Polesitsky. The result is an improvised klezmer chamber music reminiscent of the instrumental language, dance rhythms and melodies of the historical klezmorim but with the unique complexity of expression, dynamic range and tempo most often found in classical music.

Tuesday Feb 12 @ 7:30pm

Wednesday Feb13 @ 7:30pm

 

The Idan Raichel Project

Created and led by Idan Raichel, the Project’s blend of African, Latin American, Caribbean and Middle Eastern sounds, coupled with a spectacular live show, has thrilled audiences worldwide. The Project was honoured as the “Musical Group of the Decade” in Israel in 2010 and has played some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including New York’s Central Park Summer Stage, Los Angeles’ Kodak Theater, The Apollo Theater, the Sydney Opera House and Radio City Music Hall.

Thursday Feb 14 @ 8:00pm

 

SHOFAR and the Olga Mieleszczuk Ensemble

Double Bill

By searching for a common denominator between Hasidic music and free jazz, SHOFAR carries on many of the Jewish musical traditions still alive today. Performed by three leading Polish musicians, Mikoťaj Trzaska (saxophone, bass clarinet), Raphael Rogiński (electric guitar) and Macio Moretti (drums), SHOFAR’s repertoire features a broad spectrum of music inspired by the discovery of a collection of Hasidic songs by Moshe Bieregowski (1892-1961) who researched Jewish music in Ukraine, Poland and Moldova.

Monday Feb 25 @ 7:30pm

Post show talkback

 

Yemen Blues

Back at the VENUE after their sold-out concert at the 2011 Chutzpah! Festival

With its explosive, 21st century brew of Yemenite-Jewish song and poetry, West African grooves and American jazz, blues and funk, YEMEN BLUES is the most exciting new world music act out of Israel. The ensemble creates a breathtaking musical experience brimming with innovation, celebration and virtuosity fleshed out with oud, gimbri, strings and percussion, and led by the charismatic Israeli-Yemenite singer Ravid Kahalani.

Saturday March 2

Doors @ 7:00pm

Concert @ 8:00pm

THEATRE

HAUNTED

Winner, Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition 2011

by Daniel Karasik

A WORLD PREMIERE

STARRING

Patrick Sabongui, Kerry Sandomirsky, Carmel Amit, Kayla Deorkson

Directed by Katrina Dunn

Set Design by Pam Johnson

Costume Design by Sydney Cavanaugh

Lighting Design by Adrian Muir

Sound Design by Jeff McMahan

A Touchstone Theatre Production

When Abby’s husband dies, she starts attending synagogue where she befriends David, the young rabbi. As their friendship grows into something much deeper, her daughter suddenly claims to be spending time with her father’s ghost. This powerful new play by one of Canada’s most intriguing young playwrights explores the rich territory between spiritual and earthly wisdom.

Wednesday Feb 27 @ 8pm

Thursday Feb 28 @ 8pm

Friday March 1 @ 2pm

Saturday March 2 @ 2pm & 8pm

Sunday March 3 @ 2pm & 7pm

Post show talkback March 2 after 2pm

TICKETS

Single tickets for Chutzpah! performances are $18 to $40 and can be purchased online at chutzpahfestival.com and ticketstonight.ca as well as by phone at the Chutzpah! Box Office: 604-257-5145 and Tickets Tonight: 604-684-2787

Tickets for the Itamar Borochov Quartet are available only through www.cellarjazz.com or by phone: 604-738-1959.

Tickets for Chutzi Packs are also available which enable patrons to see 4 different shows of their choice for $78 (excluding Yemen Blues, Idan Raichel Project and Itamar Borochov Ensemble).  New this year is the Chutzidance! Pack for $58 and choose 3 different dance shows.