CULTURE AND THE ARTS

Artistic Outlets and More:

Dance

From as young as three of four years old, the children of Rishon LeZion can study ballet, jazz and tap-dancing in the city's community centers. The more talented go on to join Rishon's dance troupes, repesenting the city in Israel and all over the world. Rishon LeZion's dancing groups for all ages include “Pitzputizm”, “Neurim” and “Gvanim”. Jazz performers include “Jazz Essre”, one of Israel's leading professional jazz and modern dance groups. “Kol Rishon”, founded in 1992, demonstrates impressive skills in singing, acting and dancing and usually receives enthusiastic reviews from the critics. “Gvanim”,”Jazz Essre” and “Kol Rishon” always represents the city in their respective arts. Everybody can attend any of the many folk-dance classes that are regularly held in rishon.

Singing

For those who enjoy streching their vocal cords, there are a number of city-sponsored choirs. The best known is “havurat kramim” (The vineyard group). There are three more local musical community choirs: “Noam”. “Zemer Lezion”; and “Pirhei Rishon”,which is sponsored by the Municipal Culture Department.

Musicians

The whole country has heard of Rishon LeZion Symphony Orchestra, which was selected as the in - house orchestra of the new Israeli Opera.

To Be an Artist - or a student of the Arts

The city's community centers (Beeri Arts Center, Ofakim Community Center, Kiryat Ganim Community Centerand others) offer citizens the opportunity to paint, draw make prints, sculpt, throw pots, make jewelry and play chess. On the other hand, you might be too busy at tending the center's classes on everything from zoology, through communications, to storyelling and theter!

Calling All Bookworms

Rishon feeds even the most avid of bookworms at 12 city libraies with over 300,000 printed and digital books and 80 computer stations. The jewel in the library system's crown is the “Kotar Rishon” Library, which serves as a center for information and leisure time. Two more libraries are being built in the Western and Eastern parts of the city.

Culture Now

Founded eleven years ago, this cultural center offers the public various cultural activities such as lectures, workshops, literture evenings, tours, concerts and theater shows.

It's Celebration

Who hasn't heard about Rishon's annual Wine Festival? It's one of the country's biggest annual events! Hundreds of thousands of merrymakers come to Rishon LeZion every year during the week long Sukkot holiday to be enter tained by our city dance troupes and choirs and artists from all over Israel and around the world. Each year, the festival honors a different country, 1995 gave visitors a taste of the Greek island, 1996 had them dancing to a Brazilian beat and 2000 was dedicated to “Klitat Alya” (absorption of new immigrants).

The Culture Center

Over the years, the city has established several centers for the arts as well as an intimate concert hall that has served Rishon's various artistic institutions. Today, the city's magnifi center, completed in december 1998 allows the city's entire artistic community to perform for large audiences. The center has a 1000-seat hall alongside a smaller, more intimate one for 300 visitiors, as well as multi-purpose rooms. It now serves as Rishon's center for the arts, hosting the rishon LeZion Symphony Orchestra, as the well city's dance and vocal groups.

The Plastic Arts

Rishon LeZion also values the plastic arts and sculpture. A number of winning sculpture from a workshop in which scores of artists participated appear throughout the city. Rishon LeZion also has an art center and workshop for new immigrants that offer classes in painting, sculpture, photography and design. All the teachers are graduates of recognized art schools.