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The Quarterly Connection | Spring Edition |
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March 24, 2026 Vol. IV No. 1 |
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Board Reflections: Join Us for the 2026 AFB Gala on April 28! Dear Friends, Please join us for a vibrant evening at a beautiful venue in Manhattan overlooking the Hudson River, celebrating one of the world’s most extraordinary dance companies. Tuesday, April 28 6:30 pm Cocktails 7:30 pm Dinner AFB's 2026 Gala will honor Dina Aldor as she concludes sixteen years of visionary leadership as CEO of Batsheva. Ohad Naharin will join us in person, together with Batsheva dancers Sean Howe and Adi Blumenreich, who will perform a duet from Three. Guests will also experience something rare: a live rehearsal with Ohad and the dancers, offering an intimate glimpse into the creative process behind Batsheva’s groundbreaking work. The evening begins with cocktails, followed by a festive gala dinner, and continues with music, a DJ, and time to celebrate together on the dance floor. At a time when so much of the world feels fractured and uncertain, when these are frightening days in Israel and across the region, supporting the arts matters more than ever. Art reminds us of our shared humanity. It is one of the ways a society expresses its values, imagination, and hope. As President of the American Friends of Batsheva, I could not be prouder of this extraordinary company; their talent, intelligence, passion, and the courage they show in continuing to create and perform with such strength and conviction during these challenging times. Please join us for what promises to be a joyful and inspiring evening and lend your support to this extraordinary company. We would be honored to have you with us. For the love of dance, Deborah Goodman Davis AFB President |
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From the Desk of Dina Aldor Former CEO Batsheva Dance Company My dear beloved American friends, As previously announced, on December 31 I stepped down from my role as Batsheva's CEO. When I came to Batsheva 16 years ago there was a small nucleus of savvy supporters, who recognized the unmatched quality of the Company. Batsheva has grown fantastically since then. With a steady flow of superlative choreographic work and unparalleled performance by its wonderous dancers, the company has generated great audiences all over the world and the small circle of American friends has also grown into a thriving community. Thank you all for your generous support in spirit and in matter. Thank you for enabling the creation of beauty, and for helping us take it to people, young and old, in all corners of Israel and the globe. Your backing makes a difference, surely in times of shared joy, but also in times of hardship. I speak on behalf of our Israeli board, when I express my heartfelt appreciation and deep gratitude to every one of you who has been there for us in the past two difficult years, by checking in, expressing concern, and giving assistance. It has meant the world to all of us at Batsheva to know you stand by us. Many thanks to Debbie Goodman Davis, President of American Friends and to Melissa Kerbel for a moving example of genuine friendship and to my long-time dear colleague at Batsheva, Lisa Preiss Fried, who has fostered our American friends with love and devotion for over a decade, and has retired now. |
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Update from Sharon Bar Lev CEO, Batsheva Dance Company Dear Friends, In moments like these, I find myself thinking often about the extraordinary community that surrounds Batsheva. Your support, across oceans and time zones, reminds us that what we create here resonates far beyond the studio. Over the past few years, and especially in these past days, our region and our people have been challenged in ways we could not have imagined. And yet, inside the studios and on stage, something remarkable continues to happen every day. Our dancers continue searching, moving, questioning, and creating. Through their work, they offer moments of connection, reflection, and sometimes even relief. |
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Photo: Ascaf |
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Dancer Profile: Sean Howe Finding Expression Through Movement Dancer Sean Howe, hailing from Toledo, Ohio, joined The Batsheva Ensemble in 2018 and Batsheva Dance Company in 2020. He will be one of the two featured dancers at AFB’s 2026 Gala in New York City this April. We recently caught up with Sean to learn more about his journey, his work with the company, and the path that brought him here. We are delighted to share a bit of his story with you. AFB: How did you first discover dance, and what led you to pursue it professionally? Sean Howe: I was always dancing around the house as a child. |
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Photo: Ascaf |
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From the Desk of Lior Avizoor Artistic Director, Batsheva Dance Company Dear Friends, Amid the intensity of the current period, I am sending you my greetings and a brief update from the studio. After a break of several days, the dancers returned to work on March 8th. The Ensemble dancers are currently working to complete the pieces Dome by Bosmat Nossan and Separations by Roni Chadash, in preparation for their joint premiere. Simultaneously, the Company dancers are staying performance-ready for the moment we can return to the stage with ZŌ. |
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Your Support Keeps Us Moving Forward Your gift of any size helps sustain Batsheva Dance Company’s work and artistic excellence. In 2026, contributions will support two key priorities. The New Works Fund will focus on elevating women’s voices in the arts, commissioning two prominent female choreographers to create new works for the Batsheva Ensemble. Your support also strengthens Batsheva’s broader artistic ecosystem, including The Ensemble, which was created to train and encourage talented young dancers while cultivating the next generation of audiences. |