Minds In Motion begins 3rd Israeli Residency!

It's been a while since we've posted, so today we're excited to bring you Katherine Smothers' first update from Minds In Motion's third annual Israeli residency!

Shalom! Jordan Livermon and I made it to Israel! After tricking our bodies into ignoring the 7 hour difference, we began teaching Minds In Motion at Beit Yitzhak Elementary School Sunday morning at 8:00 am. It is so exciting to be here and we were greeted with the smiles and hugs from hundreds of students. This year, we are teaching three 4th grade classes back to back. Then we work with a group of the Israeli students chosen for Team XL after last year's residency. These students will soon be joined by new 4th grade XL dancers. Like last year, we are also teaching the entire 5th grade. For the very first time, there is a special addition to our schedule and to the final Minds In Motion performance- participation by a class from the neighboring Arab village, Kalansawa. These Arab students will dance alongside the students from Beit Yitzhak. All of the dancers we worked with our first day were great and very enthusiastic. My Hebrew has improved, Jordan is learning some, and we are both learning bits of Arabic.

After our 6 classes yesterday, we were whisked off to Apollonia, an archeological site sitting on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It was spectacular! The weather here was near 80 during the day and, as the sun was setting over the Sea, we walked along a boardwalk watching surfers and families, saw a wedding, then ate dinner during a sudden thunderstorm!

We are looking forward to Brett joining us next week as we prepare for the final performance of this residency. Virginia's Governor McDonnell and the first lady will be in attendance and the preparations for that visit are underway!

Now we're off to explore & eat!! ~Katherine

Katherine from Israel #2!

Katherine sent us this post last Friday. Enjoy!

Tuesday night, Brett and I held the School of Richmond Ballet auditions at a dance studio here in Beit Yizhak. I taught the class with 14 auditioners while 10 other dancers took it as a master class. The dancers were full of enthusiasm and hopefully we will see a few of them dancing in our summer intensive program in Richmond.

We just finished our sixth consecutive day of Minds In Motion classes and, as the first week of our residency ends, we are proud of the students' energy and enthusiasm. Despite the language barrier, we are having no difficulty communicating with the students. It really does prove that dance is a universal language! Our Hebrew is improving but the dancers and teachers really love and appreciate the added component that they are learning English.

The weather continues to be beautiful and yesterday, outside, there was an in-school assembly for the tree celebration of Tu B'Shevat with music and singing. Since everyone talks in Hebrew, it is always a surprise when we hear our names mentioned and the whole assembly looks at us- so we smile and wave!

Wednesday, we visited Tel Aviv and the old city of Jaffa. We walked the streets of the famous Jaffa markets and saw the sunset over the Mediterranean. then last night, we went to the Susan Della Center and saw a performance of Batsheva Dance Company. They performed a spectacular piece called "Hora". We met one of the dancers afterwards who knows our own RB's David Neal- thus proving once again that the dance world is small!

After work today, we walked on the beach and, since we finally have a day off tomorrow, we are going to travel north to visit more sights.

Shabbat Shalom!
- Katherine