Inbal Dance Theatre

Inbal Dance Theater ( , translit : Lehakat Machol Inbal ) is a dance group operating in Israel . The subject matter and materials the group deals with derive from Jewish tradition and heritage, and from the folklore of the various ethnic groups in Israel – Jewish and non Jewish – such as the Yemenite , Moroccan , Persian and Kurdish folklore, the Chasidic community and Arab society. The group is known for incorporating biblical themes and an ancient dance language into modern dance moves. The group was founded in 1949 by Sara Levi-Tanai , Jerusalem-born of a Yemenite family , in order to continue the rich traditions of Yemenite Jews . Levi-Tanai started working with a group of Yemenite youths at the "Carmel" school. From this original group came the first generation of seven Inbal dancers. The group started working regularly in 1950, and was called "Sara Levi's Oriental Dance Group". They performed at moshavim , kibbutzim and other settlements, organized by the Histadrut . In 1954, the group received funding from the Norman Foundation (later the America-Israel Culture Foundation), which allowed them to create in better conditions and even raise the number of dancers to 12. Levi-Tanai's work received a mixed reception. Many looked down on her work and considered it "oriental folklore". Yet, the group was chosen to represent Israel around the world. In the years 1957-1959 they toured North America and Europe. The Inbal Dance Theater under the artistic direction of Levi-Tanai was very successful both in Israel and abroad for over 40 years. The group operates at the Inbal Ethnic Center for Arts at The Suzanne Dellal Center in Neve Tzedek , Tel Aviv .¹