Unity through dance 2003 - This multi-cultural concert was produced by Keshet Chaim at the ICC Scottish Rite Auditorium in Los Angeles. The program included the dancers of Keshet Chaim, the Lula Washington Dance Theatre and Danza Floricanto in a wonderful collaboration to show 1,800 students about cultural diversity through the arts.

Concert program

Lula Washington, artistic director

Dancers of Gema Sandoval's Danza Floricanto

Keshet Chaim dancers in the Chassidic-Russian dance

Union Ave 2003 – Keshet Chaim gave two performances to the elementary students of Union Avenue School

Students participating in the

concert from their seats

Fran Amkraut teaching students in the audience

Millikan 2003 - This program included a residency with Millikan students, a concert for visiting elementary schools and workshops at their individual schools. The concert included Keshet Chaim dancers, dancers from Millikan, interactive teaching of songs and hand dances and a "hora" with the kids and a power point presentation about Israel.

Program from the concert

Student performers from Millikan

Elementary students in the audience participating in the "Hand Dance"

Skirball 2002 - Educational workshops that took place as part of an exchange project that was sponsored by the Tel Aviv Los Angeles Partnership committee. Keshet Chaim hosted the Inbal Dance Theatre from Israel for ten days of workshops and performances.

Ruth Goodman, assisted by

Keshet Chaim dancers teach students Israeli dance.

Ilana Cohen, artistic director of Inbal leads her company members for an interactive workshop with students at the Skirball Cultural Center.

Milken 2000 - Keshet Chaim collaborated with the Milken Community High School to develop a pilot program to teach students about the diverse Jewish cultures that exist in Israel and in the Jewish Diaspora through the arts.

Program from the culminating concert

Henna celebration that was demonstrated to students at the Yom Ha'Atzmaut festivities

Keshet Chaim dancer, Chritsy instructing Milken students

The Yemenite bride enters the Henna celebration

Miscellaneous

Hamilton High School - l995.

Keshet Chaim's project for neighboring students

Van Nuys High School - l995.

Elementary students attend and participated in a concert to learn about Israeli culture

As the City of Los Angeles emerges as the prototype of the contemporary urban center, with its diversity of cultures, our local government leaders are constantly seeking ways to aid the various communities to get along, appreciate and respect each other. Los Angeles must be seen as the new Ellis Island, where more than one-third of its residents are immigrants. One hundred and forty languages can be heard on the streets of Los Angeles, while six hundred religious traditions are observed within this county. The greatest successes in establishing these bridges have been through the arts.

The goal of the company's projects is to break down ethnic and cultural barriers among the youth through a positive experience of exposure and education about diverse cultures. Broaching inter-ethnic perceptions and eliminating stereotypes will enable us to move forward in this society and build better relationships. We strongly believe that in order to have good self-esteem, people must be proud of their heritage. This pride can only come with knowledge about their own Jewish heritage as well as the traditions and customs of those that are different from them. The State of Israel is comprised of people of many different cultures. It is a melting pot, similar to the United States. Learning about diversity is one of the critical lessons our students need to learn in order to live in unity. Israel exists partly because of prejudice and intolerance. Let us use them as an example to teach children that within a society, people of different cultures and backgrounds can live in peace, enrich each others lives and benefit from each other.

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