The Work Homesick by Iris Erez premiered in 2010 as part of the Curtain Up Festival at the Suzanne Dellal Centre. Today, the piece is being restaged with its original cast, in a studio version as part of the Fridays at Ora performance series, which restages dance works created between 1990 – 2015 into intimate and exposed studio performances.
Homesick- In the space between the familiar and the unfamiliar, people search for a place in their bodies and surroundings where they can feel ‘at home’. Their encounters redefine the intimate and public spheres as interwoven action arenas, and raise questions about the necessary and inevitable existence of the Other within us. The concept of Home breaks down into different meanings ranging from the private to the political, and reveals the fragility of the place in which we live in.
“Homesick is a work that deals with the concept of home and the concept of otherness in various ways. Ideas that were relevant fifteen years ago have become explosive and controversial over the past two years. The home that was breached—both literally and metaphorically—has affected many communities living in this place. Returning to this work is like making a home visit to the previous perspective and examining its relevance to our lives now, in the context of rupture, rebuilding, and shared existence.” Iris Erez
Iris Erez (1971) is an independent choreographer and dancer. Through her works Iris is searching to bring the political and public spheres through the private vibrating body and to research the reciprocal influences on one another. Between her works are: “Temporary”, “Homesick”, “First Body Many”, “I’ll be right back”, “Local /Not easy”, “Public Intimacy”, “Missing Faces”, site specific works and videodance pieces. Her works are shown worldwide. She worked with choreographers such as: Yasmeen Godder, Inbal Pinto, Arkadi Zaides and more. Curated the Galilee Mountains Dance Event and the 2015 edition of Machol Shalem festival in Jerusalem. Between the years 2012-2015 Iris was the chairman of the dance repertoire committee at the national educational culture center. Today she is the curator and artistic director of the “daylight works” dance series in collaboration with Ruth Valensi. Teaches at the School of Visual Theatre. Iris was the guest artist professor for spring 2017 at the dance department at Reed College as part of the Schusterman foundation and the Israeli institute program. Won several prizes and grants from the ministry of culture and from different funds. Holds a BA in psychology and arts and a diploma in dance therapy. A mother of 2 sons.
Credits
Choreography by Iris Erez
Dancers Co-creators: Asaf Aharonson, Ofir Yudilevitch, Tami Lebovits
Sound Design: Reckless Feet
Music: Mount Eerie, A Silver Mt.Zion, Reckless Feet
Costume Design: Inbal Lieblich and Tamar Levit
Stage Design: Hilla Ben-Ari
Photo: Itay Marom, Liron Weissman
The piece was premiered at the Curtain Up festival 2010 under the artistic direction of Tamar Borer