Rina Schenfeld Dance Theatre
I saw a butterfly - An Evening of Dance and Poetry - Premiere

Rina Schenfeld presents an evening in four parts featuring her works of dance and poetry. The works – I saw a butterfly; A Moon Floating on the River; Stone on Stone; and The Dancing Body – are set against a backdrop of music by Grammy Award Winner David Darling and nearly 40 poems that Rina has written in the last 30 years. This rare collection of poems along with Darling’s meditative compositions serve as the inspiration for the dream-like dances performed by Rina and her company. Schenfeld returns to the stage with her signature of props and creates, with her dancers, an expressive world of ethereal and dramatic vignettes. The program includes the launch of Rina’s published book of poems accompanied by paintings of her grandchildren Noga and Shahar.

Rina Schenfeld is one of the foremost dance artists in Israel. Born in Tel Aviv, Rina began her study of classical ballet at age 12 with Russian teacher Mia Arbatoba. She studied Graham technique with Rina Gluck and soon performed in her Dance Company. Martha Graham saw Schenfeld perform and was so impressed with her that she awarded Schenfeld a scholarship to Juilliard, where she extended her studies to choreography, dance notation, music, modern and classical dance. There she performed with Pearl Lang and Ethel Winter. Upon return to Israel, Rina established a company of 11 dancers and danced as a principal dancer of the newly formed Batsheva Dance Company, where she was engaged from 1963-1979. After 20 years, Rina left Batsheva Dance Company in order to establish the Rina Schenfeld Dance Theatre, under which she directs a company, school, and workshop till this day. Rina has created over 90 dances that have won a great success in the whole world and were invited to the most important dance centers, from Theatre de la Villa in Paris, to the Next Festival in New York.