We love arabs

The Israeli dancer and choreographer, Hillel Kogan, standing alone on the stage in what appears to be a prologue, confides to the audience that he is looking for an Arab dancer to appear in a forthcoming production to tackle the thorny subject of the warlike and/ or peaceful coexistence between the two nations.

The sudden appearance of the other performer gives rise to all the truisms, clichés and received ideas about each of the two ethnic groups in terms of culture, politics and religion. The production also uses humour and mockery to combat many other prejudices: about the fashions and vagaries of contemporary dance, its affectation, its elitism; about the preconceived
ideas verging on racism that people might have about physical movement from one culture to another…

But, praise the Lord, a general communion of hummus and pita bread miraculously banishes ill-feeling and clears up all misunderstandings...