Internationally acclaimed dancers mesmerise

Chandigarh, January 17

With a view to forging cultural relations with Israel, The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in collaboration with the Punjab Arts Council organised a rare and intimate dance performance of ‘Two Words’ by internationally acclaimed dancers, Jill and Amnon Damti from Israel.

Amnon Damti is deaf by birth, which, however, was no impediment for him securing International honours besides Israel’s prestigious “Kinor David” dance Award for innovative dances.

Jill Feingold Damti, Amnon’s hearing wife and dancing partner, specialising in gymnastics and water ballet dancing, took the centre stage to introduce the title concept of “Two words of the Deaf and the Hearing World”. She recapitulated 26 years’ of their relationship as life partners made for each other and dance through a video clip with international performances watched by the US president among others.

‘Two Worlds’ included mainly interactive dance and pantomime performances, mostly performed by Damti as wife Jill acted as narrator using Hebrew with Israel signs for the deaf. On command through ‘signs’, Dampti transformed his body and emotional expressions dancing like a bird and even like a camel moving in a desert.

An invited group of deaf students of Vatika school, who understood deaf signs, enjoyed the inspiring performance more. Chief guest Balwant Thakur, Thespian and Regional director ICCR Jammu, Nalini Singhal ICCR Chandigarh and Vinod Kumar honoured the artistes. — OC