From then until now, the dance troupe has led the field of Israeli dance in Be’er Sheva. Throughout the years, it has represented the city in many performances in Israel, and has also proudly represented Israel abroad in various delegations. The troupe has won awards for various works over the years and has made the field of Israeli folklore accessible to many children.

 

Leading choreographers in the field of Israeli dance have worked with the troupe and created amazing choreographies, among them Itzik Maayan, Shlomo Maman, Shlomo Haziz, Barry Avidan, Shalom Cohen, and others.

 

Today, the dance troupe preserves the Hora and Israeli folklore, while integrating them into the field of contemporary dance, into a new language that maintains Jewish and Israeli identity with innovations and updates, in accordance with what is happening in the global dance arena.

The troupe serves as an educational and social framework for children and youth who begin dancing at elementary school age and develop into dancers throughout their adolescent years, their training in the troupe, and until their recruitment into the army. When the troupe’s graduates are released from their military service, they return to the troupe as dancers in the adult troupe and as instructors for young troupes.

 

In the dance troupe, there is an emphasis on values-based education, for values such as respect, mutual responsibility, and contribution to the state. Additionally, the dancers learn teamwork while developing the ability for personal expression, and the importance of perseverance and investment in a long-term process toward the goal.

 

As part of the studies, every dancer takes at least three classes per week including Israeli folklore, classical ballet, modern dance, and jazz.

 

The troupe participates every year in huge productions and festivals with leading artists such as Shiri Maimon, Benaia Barabi, Raviv Kaner, Sarit Hadad, Elai Botner, Marina Maximilian, Ido Malka, and more.

 

Responsible organizations:

Be’er Sheva Municipality, Kivunim Company, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Sport.

 

Special thanks to Uri Yinon, who for many years managed the cultural sector in the Be’er Sheva Municipality, and who has Israeli dance in his soul. Uri nurtured the “Pargod” dance troupe and was entrusted with the promotion of Israeli dance in Be’er Sheva, and continues even today to advise and assist the dance troupe.

 

Partner Schools: Makif Gimel High School, HaYovel School, Afik School, Mitzpeh School.

 

Artistic Director and Choreographer: Bar Kimchi Raskin

• A creator in the field of Israeli dance and engaged in its integration into modern and contemporary dance.
• Leads original productions for the Pargod dance troupes and creates choreography for major festivals and events in the field of dance in Israel.
• Graduate of the Bat-Dor Be’er Sheva Ballet School and graduate of the dance teacher training course at Wingate College.
• Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Movement Therapy.
• A movement therapist in mental health settings such as the Amcha Association and Sheba Hospital.

Troupes Manager: Dana Stockmeister

• Married to Daniel, grew up in Karmiel and currently lives in Be’er Sheva.
• Previously danced in the “Karmei Machol Karmiel” dance troupe, representing the city at festivals in Israel and abroad.
• Until the age of 19, she danced as a soloist in the “RDance” Karmiel troupe.
• Currently manages the Pargod dance troupes and dances in the adult troupe.

In addition, she is a dancer and salsa instructor in the “Los Salseros” community and at the “Adult Dance Studio”.

Makif Gimel Troupe Manager: Liron Elyakim

• A graduate of the Pargod dance troupe where she grew up and trained as a dancer over the years.
• A creator in the field of Israeli folklore and contemporary Israeli dance.
• She also instructs troupes of various ages within Pargod and manages the school troupes, such as HaYovel School and Makif Gimel High School.

 

Troupes Instructor: Maor Boganim

• A graduate of the Pargod dance troupes where he was nurtured from elementary school age.
• Currently a professional dancer in the Kamea Dance Company and a graduate of Bat-Dor Be’er Sheva.
• Teaches at the Tetatet studio, conducts dance workshops, and participates in dance festivals in Eilat.

Maor: “For me, dance is a privilege through which I was chosen to live. Not just movement in space, but the ability to breathe, to feel, and to bring emotion into the movement”.

 

Original Productions

 

Every year the troupe produces an original production according to a different artistic concept. Among the productions:

2022: “Mivchan Bagrut – Matriculation Exam” – A performance delving into growing pains and various maturation processes.

2023: “Keren Shemesh – Sunbeam” – A dance work dealing with friendship and hope.

2024: “Tzipor HaNefesh – Bird of the Soul” – Works dealing with emotions and the human soul as well as dance as a healing tool during the difficult days we have been through in Israel.

2025: “Shana Bein HaKavim – A Year Between the Lines” – A dance performance that was integrated with video-art on subjects that arose following the events of October 7, 2023.

 

The Representative Troupes:

 

“Nitzanim” (Buds) – Grades 3-4

” Tze’ira” (Young) – Grades 5-6

” Ne’urim” (Youth) – Grades 7-8

“Bogeret” (High School) – Grades 9 and up

Adult and Student Troupe – Ages 18+

 

Contact phone number (Dana): +972-52-3320109

Facebook: Pargod The Be’er Sheva Municipal Dance Center

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