Dance Europe, No To Israel?

The Latest News || Tuesday, 14 March, 2006

Dance Europe, the London based dance magazine, has declined to either confirm or deny an ongoing policy of refusing to feature any Israeli dance company unless they denounce, in writing, their governments position of occupying the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

During a telephone conversation with a Dance Europe employee, who declined to identify himself, he stated that 'people have twisted this [issue]'. Referring to several online Blogs that initially highlighted this story and also followed it up with emails and telephone calls. The magazine refused to discuss the matter citing pressure of deadlines as the magazine was being sent out to print today. When we asked if they could discuss the matter tomorrow the unidentified male said 'No, [maybe in a couple of weeks]' He also suggested we send our questions in via email which we declined to do.

The policy of refusing to feature Israeli companies came to light after Stephanie Freid, a freelance writer based in Tel Aviv contacted Dance Europe to pitch a story about Sally-Anne Friedland and her dance company.

According to Ms Fried's online account of her conversation with Naresh Kaul, listed as the magazines Advertising Manager, he stated "that because of the occupation the magazine doesn't run stories on dance companies based in Israel."

A position further supported by the Editor of Dance Europe, Emma Manning who said; "We don't allow advertisements or stories from Israel but if we are going to run something, it's with a statement from the source denouncing the occupation."

Mr Kaul also told the Jewish Chronicle in London that the magazine does not require Palestinian dance companies to denounce suicide bombings [in Israel] because “There’s a reason for people to become suicide bombers. Their land has been occupied.” When we asked if the person we were speaking to was in fact Mr Kaul the phone was hung up.

Despite the fact that Dance Europe refused to speak to us about this issue their policy would seem to be illustrated by their online list of links to dance companies from around the world. No companies are listed from Israel. The Dance Library of Israel currently lists some 22 companies and their contact details on its website.

[Update: a reference to Ohad Nahrin was incorrect in the above story, this has been changed]

[ Stephanie Freid Website ]
[ Dance Library of Israel ]