Bat-Dor Dance Company

Bat-Dor Dance Company
Name	Bat-Dor Dance Company
Founded	1968
Founder	Baroness Batsheva de Rothschild; Jeannette Ordman
Ceased	2006
Headquarters	Tel Aviv

Bat-Dor Dance Company was an influential modern ballet company based in Tel Aviv that operated from 1968 to 2006. The company was established by philanthropist Baroness Batsheva de Rothschild and choreographer Jeannette Ordman, becoming a central institution in Israeli dance by commissioning works from international and Israeli choreographers and touring extensively in Europe, North America, and Asia.

History

Bat-Dor emerged during a period marked by cultural growth in Israel alongside institutions such as the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Habima Theatre. Early activity intersected with Israeli cultural policy in the 1960s and 1970s and with the careers of artists connected to the Batsheva Dance Company and the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s Bat-Dor expanded its repertoire through relationships with choreographers who had worked with companies such as the Royal Ballet, New York City Ballet, and the Paris Opera Ballet, while engaging with venues including the Edinburgh Festival and the Lincoln Center.

Founding and Artistic Direction

The founders combined European modernism and Anglo-American ballet traditions: Baroness Batsheva de Rothschild drew on philanthropic models similar to those backing the Graham Company and the Martha Graham School, while Jeannette Ordman contributed artistic leadership influenced by training at institutions like the Royal Academy of Dance and collaborations with figures from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Merce Cunningham Dance Company. Artistic directors over the decades invited guest choreographers from the Dutch National Ballet, Teller Company, and choreographic voices associated with the ABT (American Ballet Theatre) and the Boston Ballet to devise works for the company.

Repertoire and Collaborations

Bat-Dor presented a mix of neoclassical and contemporary choreography featuring commissions from choreographers linked to the Balanchine lineage, creators associated with the Anglo-Saxon ballet tradition, and avant-garde figures who also worked with the Festival d'Avignon and the Gauthier Dance Company. The company staged works by choreographers whose careers intersected with the Royal Ballet of Flanders, Stuttgart Ballet, Mikhail Baryshnikov-affiliated creators, and composers who collaborated with companies like the Berlin Philharmonic and the Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion. Collaborative projects included set and costume designers who had credits at institutions such as the Metropolitan Opera and festivals like the Spoleto Festival USA.

Tours and International Reception

Touring became central to Bat-Dor's international profile, with seasons in cultural centers including London, Paris, New York City, Milan, Tokyo, and festival appearances at the Edinburgh Festival and the Salzburg Festival. Critical reception in outlets associated with coverage of the New York Times, the Guardian, and the Le Monde reflected interest from audiences familiar with works seen at the Paris Opera Ballet and performances by companies such as the Kirov Ballet and the Cuban National Ballet. Tours fostered exchanges with institutions like the Juilliard School and the Ballet Nacional de Cuba and enabled guest teaching residencies at conservatories such as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

School and Education Programs

Bat-Dor supported a school that trained dancers in techniques drawing on traditions from the Vaganova Academy and the French School of Ballet, while incorporating contemporary pedagogy practiced at the London Contemporary Dance School and the Juilliard School. The educational program offered masterclasses with artists associated with the Graham Technique, the Cunningham Technique, and instructors who had taught at the Royal Academy of Dance and the Palace Theatre. Partnerships with the Tel Aviv University and cultural initiatives linked to the Ministry of Culture and Sport (Israel) fostered outreach programs and youth workshops that connected with municipal theaters and festivals.

Notable Dancers and Alumni

Alumni of Bat-Dor went on to careers with major companies and institutions such as the Batsheva Dance Company, Boston Ballet, New York City Ballet, and the Royal Ballet. Dancers and choreographers associated with Bat-Dor later appeared in productions at the Guggenheim Museum-linked festivals, taught at conservatories like the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, and received honors from bodies including the Israel Prize and international awards presented by the Dance Critics Association.

Legacy and Influence

The company left a lasting imprint on Israeli and international dance, shaping repertory choices at institutions such as the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company and informing curricula at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance and the Thelma Yellin High School of Arts. Its archive influenced scholarship at cultural research centers like the Israel Museum and university departments of performance studies at the Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The network of artists and the pedagogical lineage stemming from Bat-Dor continue to resonate in collaborations among companies such as the Akram Khan Company and choreographic exchanges with ensembles like the Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet.

Category:Dance companies in Israel Category:Culture in Tel Aviv