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.

HISTORY

Keshet Chaim was founded in March 1983. Their performance opportunities have been varied, including travels, concerts, festivals, events, educational projects and many collaborations with other artists and organizations. 

Performance Highlights include:

• 1984 Summer Olympics, Los Angeles
• Jewish Festival, Los Angeles, Irvine, Ventura County, San Francisco & Tucson
• National Cantor’s Convention, Shrine Auditorium
• National Cantor’s Convention, Broward Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• CAJE Convention, USC
• Los Angeles Festival, Santa Monica Pier
• International Hadassah Convention, Los Angeles
• Dance Kaleidoscope, Ford Theater, Los Angeles
• San Diego Jewish Music Festival
• LA County Holiday Show, KCET TV
• Poway Performing Arts Series, San Diego
• Israeli Festival, Los Angeles
• Church on the Way, Los Angeles
• Israel Bond Events, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara & Los Angeles
• Royal Caribbean Cruise, Mexico
• Los Angeles Dance Roots Festival, Los Angeles Theater Center
• Club Med, Sonora Bay, Mexico
• Charleston Heights Performing Arts Series, Nevada
• Israel-Christian Nexus Event, Los Angeles
• Jewish National Fund Events, Los Angeles
• Democratic National Convention, Paramount Studios
• National Religious Broadcasters Breakfast, Anaheim Convention Center
• USC Performing Arts Series
• Opening Ceremonies of the Maccabiah Games, Los Angeles
• El Planeta Chiquitran, KWHY TV
• Solomon Mikoel’s International Arts Festival, Bolshoi Theater, Moscow
• Let My People Rock Fesitval, Brandeis Bardin Institute, Los Angeles
• Horton Awards Ceremony, Dance Resource Center, Los Angeles
• Israel’s 50th Celebration, Union Station, Washington DC
• Saddleback College Performing Arts Series
• Jewish World Watch event, Armenian Church, Glendale
• Summer Sounds at the Hollywood Bowl
• Theodore Bikel Concert, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Center
• United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Youth Conference
• One People, One Soul, Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles
• LACMA, Bing Theater, Los Angeles
• Tchaikovsky Theatre, Moscow
• Greek Theatre, Los Angeles
• International Folk Dance Festival, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
• Hallelu, Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles
• Temple Shalom for the Arts, Wilshire Theatre, Los Angeles
• Wilshire Ebell Theater, Los Angeles
• Unity Though Dance, Scottish Rite Auditorium, Los Angeles
• Shared Roots Festival, Skirball Cultural Center
• LA Times Travel Show, Los Angeles Convention Center
• Hollywood Salutes Israel 60, Paramount Studios
• Israel 60, Kodak Theater
• PBS Chanukah Special, Japan America Theatre, Los Angeles
• Karmiel and Arad Festivals, Israel
• Festival Aviv, Mexico City
• Dance Month, Houston, TX
• Aero- Space Museum, Sacramento
• California Capitol Building, Sacramento
• Fiesta Shalom, Breed Street, Los Angeles
• Opening of Hertzl Street, Beverly Hills
• Supreme Master TV, anniversary show
• Jerusalem Soul, Ford Theater, Los Angeles
• Dance 4 Life, benefit for Schneider Hospital
• Toronto IsReal Festival
• Rhythm and Roots, Ford Theater, Los Angeles
• ILCare event, Universal Amphitheatre
• URJ conference in Washington DC
• Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Salt Lake City
• Clippers Half-Time Show, Staples Center
• ICN-TV for 2013 Chinese New Year Celebration
• AIPAC Policy Conference, Washington DC
• 2013 Jewish Festival, JCC Irvine
• Oxnard College Lecture/Demo
• IAC Gala, Beverly Hills
• Israel Bonds at Wilshire Blvd Temple
• Residency at Adleson Educational Center, Las Vegas
• Friday Night Live
• Larger Than Life Gala, Beverly Hills
• Flash Mob Series - Pico Union, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
• Times of Israel Gala, New York
• IAC Yom HaAtzmaut at The Venetian, Las Vegas
• KC Drummers at the Israeli Yom HaAtzmaut Festival
• 7-city Florida Tour
• Los Angeles Israeli Dance Month

Visit our GALLERY for pictures from these events and others