A promising young Taiwanese dancer has been selected to join Israel’s internationally acclaimed Batsheva Dance Company, making her the first person from Taiwan to do so, the Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei (ISECO) said yesterday.
Lee Chen-wei (李貞葳), a former member of the Lan Yang Dance Group who graduated from Taipei National University of the Arts last year, will leave for Israel in a few days to join the dance company, ISECO said in a press release.
In a recent meeting with Lee, Israeli Representative Raphael Gamzou wished the young dancer the best in Israel, while Lee expressed her excitement over the opportunity to perform with Batsheva, the press release said.
“This is a golden opportunity for you and I’m sure you will do a great job,” Gamzou was quoted as saying.
Lee, who grew up in Ilan County, began studying dance at the age of five.
She was selected by Batsheva Artistic Director Ohad Naharin among the many young dancers who auditioned around the world.
Lee will join Batsheva’s Young Dancer’s Ensemble and perform with them during the 2009 to 2010 season. Batsheva is scheduled to perform next year at Taipei’s National Theater Hall as part of an Asian tour and ISECO said it hoped Lee would be with the troupe.
The world-renowned company was founded in 1964 by Martha Graham and Batsheva de Rothschild, who lived in Israel.
Naharin has served as the artistic director for the last 15 years. His style has been described by the New York Times as “distinguished by stunningly flexible limbs and spines, deeply grounded movement, explosive bursts and a vitality that grabs a viewer by the collar.”
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