Since 1995, Keshet Chaim has been using art to teach children in the Los Angeles public school community about the rich and multifaceted culture of Israel. Keshet continues to serve the children of Los Angeles with the Colors of Israel educational workshops which use Israeli culture as a vehicle to teach tolerance about other cultures and their coexistence.
The current model for teaching in elementary schools includes a one-month residency workshops with the students and professional development training for the school's teachers so they can continue incorporating Israeli dance during their classes, be it Physical Education, as a part of a lesson or their free time.
Education Director Cecilia Hanono and Keshet teachers provide instruction in Israeli folk dance, Jewish culture, Hebrew, stories and traditions, and lead discussions about tolerance. Elementary school students learn dances from a variety of backgrounds: from Eastern Europe to Morocco, from Yemenite hand dances to Sabra Israeli dances and the origin of the Hora. After the workshops, Keshet Chaim presents its original children's show, "The Adventures of Mealk and Chani." An Israeli cow named Mealk and her friend Chani teach children about the different places the Jews come from (and live), and that they now have a homeland in Israel, using all the vocabulary and concepts learned through the workshop. The company ends the production with a communal folk dance session with all the children who were exposed to the lessons coming together as a large group to dance, using the Hebrew words and songs they learned in the workshops.
Keshet Chaim is a proud member of the LAUSD Arts Community Partnership Network and is a part of the Los Angeles County Arts Resource Directory.
Our programs are built to be adjusted to each group’s specific goals and restraints. Various age groups, levels of dance experience, and scheduling frequencies can all be accommodated. If you would like more information on bringing us to your community, please contact, Cecilia Hanono, Education Director at cecilia@kcdancers.org.