The Company

KESHET CHAIM
(Hebrew for "Colors of Life")

Keshet Chaim is an American-Israeli contemporary dance company, dedicated to celebrating the inclusive spirit of Israeli culture and Judaism throughout the world. Founded in 1983 by Artistic Director Eytan Avisar, Keshet Chaim creates, develops and presents original choreography which fuses contemporary Israeli dance with Jewish folk dance traditions from across the Diaspora. Influenced by the multi-ethnic roots of the Jewish music, art, poetry and culture, Keshet Chaim combats prejudice and anti-Semitism through entertainment, community outreach, children's workshops, and professional development dance education.

Keshet Chaim "forges a unique identity…one of the few touring American dance groups committed exclusively to Israeli culture and dance," according to the LA Daily News.

The company operates under the belief that cultural diffusion and dissemination of artistic values are key to the betterment of society. The company's mission includes both preserving and extending the heritage of ethnic dance and music found in the diverse communities of the Jewish Diaspora. Influenced by world music, the multi-ethnic roots of the Jewish people, and a constant drive for interpreting and exploring Jewish values through art, Keshet Chaim serves as both a repertory ensemble for traditional forms and a laboratory for contemporary works based on these traditions. Keshet Chaim has become a pioneer in the development of Jewish dance and seeks to focus its mission by teaching the richness of the cultures within the community to Jews and non-Jews alike.