Hailing from the mysterious yet wonderous land of Israel is a contemporary dance theatrical group called Vertigo 20 … and they’re coming to Adelaide as part of OzAsia 2016! I was fortunate enough to conduct a Skype interview with them, where I learned more about the story of Vertigo 20 and how the artists were feeling about bringing a piece of their creative lifestyle to the Oz Asia 2016 Festival.
Founded by the power couple duo Noa Wertheim and Adi Sha’al, Vertigo 20 aims to create a burst of emotions, where you can get a multitude of senses – from sadness to passion to action. What we do know is that this particular dance theatre will keep you on the edge of your seats, due to its unpredictable nature of changing themes and bouncing from moments of happiness, wit, sadness, and mysticism.
When they are not capturing people’s hearts through dance, Noa is also founder of Vertigo Eco Art Village – a center for art and ecology. The aim to set up a space like this was to address the ecological issues that are currently prevailing in Israel. Additionally, it is a haven that Noa and Adi created in the countryside ten years ago, so that they can find a balance with juggling busy lives around their family, tours, and the overall hectic lifestyle that they lead in the art industry. Adi mentioned that he finds this Village to be a “connection between creative arts and surroundings sustainable living”.
Upon viewing her Ted X talk, I asked Noa to elaborate a bit more on how her mother influenced the production and creation of Vertigo 20. Noa passionately described her mother to be of an open and loving nature, who taught Noa how to accept different behaviours and love with a big, open heart. She takes pride in her individualism, and the strength and the quality of being, all thanks to the values imparted by her mother.
As Adi and Noa explained, Vertigo started off as a duet during its initial 3 years. However, when the couple were thinking of starting a family, they explored options of incorporating modern dance into their act, as it reels in a lot more room for expressing oneself.
Vertigo 20 is not just an exclusive dance theatre company – they also offer training programmes on an international basis, taking students from all over the world. With options such as Masterclass for 1 week to 1 year, the team behind Vertigo 20 spend a great deal of time and energy in helping students (old and new) find their inner spirit and bring in a fierce and intense sense of rhythm.
As Adi said, it’s all about “how you move, how you walk, how you talk” that captures the audiences’ attention. They also offer training to those with disabilities, as they firmly believe in the motto that “everybody can dance”.
Adi and Noa have also expressed the brilliance of mutual learning, where they learn from their students by exchanging ideas and incorporating different styles of movement. They wholeheartedly embrace the idea of allowing themselves and others with the opportunity to work with a diverse range of communities, individuals with mixed abilities, and add to the ‘power of balance’ that Vertigo 20 is all about.
When you attend their show on September 30 or October 1, be prepared to enter a beautiful state of zen, where you can feel the meditative bliss that is achieved through a mind-body-soul connection. There is a lot of realistic and surrealistic aspects to the dance movements that make it hauntingly beautiful to watch.
Upon asking how they feel about visiting Australia (and particularly Adelaide), Adi expressed his excitement at visiting the city and the country that he previously visited 5 years ago at the Brisbane Festival. While Noa stays back to care for the family, Adi is looking forward to making his Adelaidean debut and even make friends with kangaroos and koalas if he is able to fit in the time to do so.
If you haven’t already done so, be sure to check out Vertigo 20 on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=154&v=UgepJAFJrGg) and prepare to be mesmerized. There is a beautiful and eclectic transition from reality to an alternate dimension.
Words by Fatema Sitabkhan
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