Quebec’s Ballet Jazz To Tour Israel

MONTREAL — Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal will tour Israel in early June.
The contemporary dance troupe’s opening performance is at the Jerusalem International Convention Centre June 1. The troupe then goes to the Be’er Sheva Theatre in the Negev June 3, the Haifa Auditorium in the north June 4, and finishes with a three-night run at the Tel Aviv Opera House June 5 to 7.
Three works from its repertory are on the bill: Locked Up Laura, a short duet of a male and female dancer, Zip Zap Zoom, inspired by the virtual world of Internet games, both by choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa of Amsterdam, and Les Chambres des Jacques by Aszure Barton of New York. The latter, which is described as “oscillating between daily life and the grotesque,” garnered good reviews from both the critics and public in Montreal and on tour internationally.
Les Ballets Jazz was founded in 1972 by Eddy Toussaint, Eva Von Genscy and Geneviève Salbaing, who was its artistic director for many years.
Current artistic director Louis Robitaille said: “Faced with the tensions and uncertainties arising all over the world, I have aspired to performances that can refresh the soul and give hope.”

Multifaith Event

TORONTO — Canadian Jewish Congress hosted dozens of Toronto-area leaders from the Muslim, Buddhist and Tamil-Sinhalese communities at Holy Blossom Temple April 5. The dignitaries heard from Holy Blossom spiritual leader Rabbi John Moscowitz, who discussed the fundamentals of Judaism and answered the audience’s questions. After a dinner, the guests toured the sanctuary and learned more about Judaism’s core principles. The program ended with participants resolving to work together on matters of common concern, including fighting antisemitism and racism.