tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625316320341606012.post3030376107565612064..comments2011-02-27T21:44:51.841-08:00Comments on Next Year in al-Quds: Pittsburgh to Protest Batsheva Dance CompanyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625316320341606012.post-18121116810066498022009-01-26T23:56:00.000-08:002009-01-26T23:56:00.000-08:00Well done, jamie. I have published your letter as ...Well done, jamie. I have published your letter as a separate post and forwarded it to some solidarity lists. Please keep me posted on what develops in Vancouver.Next Year in Al-Qudshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07653306173569187556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625316320341606012.post-80281679765524709372009-01-26T22:48:00.000-08:002009-01-26T22:48:00.000-08:00Here is a copy of the letter I have circulated in ...Here is a copy of the letter I have circulated in the dance and art community of Vancouver, Canada, calling for a local boycott here of the Batsheva Dance Company. <BR/><BR/>Dear Dance House Productions,<BR/><BR/>I want to let you know that as an active arts member of Vancouver's dance scene, supporter of New Works and collaborator with many of Eponymous's arts clients, I however will be boycotting your presentation of Israeli Batsheva Dance Company's 'Deca Dance' on February 20th and 21st 2009. Under the present political circumstances it would be impossible to enjoy such an event. I prefer to add my own artists voice to the many others that are calling for a boycott of Israeli cultural events due to the illegal military and civil actions occurring at this time in Israel. <BR/>I will be actively encouraging others to join the boycott and I sincerely ask you to reconsider your involvement in this event. <BR/>I have no doubt that history will look back on this in much the same way that they now do of the 1980's cultural and sporting boycotts of South African apartheid.<BR/>I feel I should be brave enough to take the personal effort to make my feelings known to you directly, so you don't think its just radicals out there, and do not confuse this with anti-semitism. Boycotting Batsheva is a very real response for many mainstream Vancouverites, including myself. I have travelled to Israel and the West Bank several times, so this is a carefully considered decision. After weighing all the options I have decided to join the international call for a cultural boycott. <BR/><BR/>Boycott is a tactic which allows people, as distinct from their elected governments, to apply pressure on those wielding power in an unjust way. It is directed not against people but against oppressive and unjust policies and regimes in order to bring about change. However it should also be noted that the dance company members have included past and present Israeli soldiers in the junior ensemble.<BR/><BR/>Batsheva operates throughout the year with its 2 companies (Batsheva Dance Company and the junior Batsheva Ensemble) and 40 dancers. With 250 annual performances in Israel and around the world, the company is considered Israel’s leading cultural ambassador. As you must be aware Israel has been violating UN resolutions and international law, and has no right to be regarded as an ordinary member-state with whom Western democracies should be engaged in cultural exchange. By hosting a dance group which represents Israel, you implicitly collude with Israel's crimes.<BR/><BR/>sincerely <BR/>jamie griffiths<BR/><BR/>http://www.naomiklein.org/articles/2009/01/israel-boycott-divest-sanction<BR/>http://www.danceinsider.com/f2008/f0912_1.html<BR/>http://ingaza.wordpress.com/<BR/><BR/>jamie griffiths<BR/>Director (Film)s & Live Projection (Designs)<BR/>Primal Divine Productions<BR/>art & performance films<BR/>interactive stage designsprimal divinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10406810095110806328noreply@blogger.com