“Ben” - Award-Winning Work at “Shades in Dance” 2011

About the Winning Work

“Ben” by Yoni Sutchy won first place at the “Shades in Dance Festival 2011”. The work was presented as part of the renowned biennial competition for original Israeli choreography.
The festival was managed this year by Idit Herman from Klipa Theater, and the judging panel included: Rina Schenfeld, Nava Zukerman, Hadas Maor, Gadi Dagon, and Ido Tadmor.

Visual and Artistic Language

The work stood out for its unique visual language. The redheaded dancer with the small bob captivated with geometric movement quality that evoked Robert Mapplethorpe’s photographs. This reference to the renowned photographer Robert Mapplethorpe indicates the high level of performance and sophisticated aesthetics of the work.
The work included a magical moment where all the characters gathered around a human table and moved like parts of one organic unit. This choreographic element creates a sense of unity and wholeness among the dancers on stage.

Artistic Influences

The works of Allen Jones apparently served as inspiration for Yoni Sutchy and his set designers, Ayelet Shaked and Alon Birger. The reference to the works of British artist Allen Jones, known for his provocative and feminist works, places the work in an international artistic context.

Critical Reception

Despite the victory, the work also aroused mixed opinions. The dance critic wrote: “Yes, it surprises me that ‘Ben’ by Yoni Sutchi won,” indicating that the victory was not expected by all critics.
However, the critic recognized certain qualities of the work, especially the high level of performance by the dancers and the impressive choreographic moments.

Continuity and Impact

Yoni continues to present the work “Ben” on various stages in Israel after winning the festival. The fact that the work continued to live after the festival testifies to its artistic importance and the demand for its presentation.
Its Place in the Creator’s Path
This work is from an important period in Yoni Sutchy’s career, when he began to establish himself as a choreographer with a special tone in local dance. The victory in Shades in Dance paved the way for future works like “Duck” which also received critical recognition.
Technical Details: Choreographer: Yoni Sutchy, Set Design: Ayelet Shaked and Alon Birger, Festival: Shades in Dance 2011,

Achievement: First Place Prize: 25,000 NIS (shared with Li Meir). Artistic Direction: Idit Herman. Year: 2011

“Dinner” - Contemporary Dance Work by Yoni Sutchy

About the Work

“Dinner” is a contemporary dance work choreographed by Yoni Sutchi, featuring renowned Israeli dancers Orin Yohanan and Ido Tadmor. The work has been presented at various festivals in Israel and internationally, showcasing Sutchi’s distinctive choreographic voice on different stages.

The Performers

The work features two of Israel’s most accomplished contemporary dancers:
Orin Yohanan - A graduate of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, winner of the first prize in the Maya Arbatova ballet competition. She danced with the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company from 2006-2010 as a senior and leading dancer. Yohanan is known for her exceptional technical abilities and expressive range, having worked with various leading choreographers including Shalom Biton, Dafi Altabeb, Sharon Vazana, Maya Yugel, Elad Schechter, and Yoni Sutchy.

Ido Tadmor - A veteran performer and choreographer in the Israeli dance scene, with over two decades on stage and years of experience behind the scenes. Tadmor is known for his deep commitment to dance, describing ballet as being “like air to breathe” for him. He has performed in various solo works and collaborations throughout his distinguished career.

Performance Context

“Dinner” has been presented as part of Tadmor’s performance repertoire, alongside other significant works including “When the Beast Returned” by Meirav Cohen and “Cosmos” - a narrative dance theater piece by Ofir Lavia. The work demonstrates Sutchy’s ability to create pieces that resonate with different performers and audiences across various festival contexts.

Choreographic Style

As part of Yoni Sutchy’s body of work, “Dinner” reflects his characteristic approach to contemporary dance, which often explores themes of human relationships, social dynamics, and intimate moments. Sutchi’s choreographic language typically combines technical precision with emotional depth, creating works that are both visually compelling and conceptually rich.
International and Domestic Presence
The work’s presentation at festivals both in Israel and abroad demonstrates its universal appeal and the quality of its artistic content. This international reach reflects Sutchy’s growing reputation as a choreographer whose works transcend cultural boundaries while maintaining their distinctly Israeli contemporary dance identity.

Artistic Collaboration

The collaboration between Sutchy as choreographer and the performers Yohanan and Tadmor represents a meeting of significant talents in the Israeli dance scene. Both dancers bring their extensive experience and unique artistic qualities to Sutchi’s choreographic vision, creating a work that showcases the depth and sophistication of contemporary Israeli dance.

“Slave to Love” - Contemporary Dance Duet by Yoni Sutchy

About the Work

“Slave to Love” is a contemporary dance duet created by choreographer Yoni Sutchi in 2010. This marked Sutchi’s first duet creation and represents a significant milestone in his artistic development. The work was commissioned and supported by the Habima Festival in Rishon LeZion.

Thematic Content

According to Sutchi himself, “Slave of Love” deals with “taming the rebellious - someone whose partner moves on to the next emotional manipulation.” This powerful thematic framework explores complex dynamics of power, control, and emotional vulnerability within intimate relationships. The work confronts the darker aspects of love and partnership, examining how affection can become a tool of manipulation and control.

Original Cast and Development

The duet was originally created in collaboration with Rishon LeZion-based dancers Tom Appelbaum and Yigal Meshinsky. This collaboration with local artists from the Rishon LeZion dance community demonstrates Sutchi’s commitment to working with diverse performers and creating opportunities for regional artists.

Performance History

Following its initial creation, “Slave of Love” was later performed by Ido Tadmor and Yoni Sutchi himself. This evolution of the cast shows the work’s adaptability and Sutchi’s personal investment in the piece, as he chose to perform in it himself alongside the veteran dancer Tadmor.
The duet was presented at performances by the association, indicating its integration into the broader Israeli contemporary dance scene and its recognition within dance organizations.

Artistic Significance

“Slave of Love” holds particular importance in Yoni Sutchi’s choreographic journey as his debut duet work. It established themes that would continue to resonate throughout his later creations - the exploration of intimate relationships, power dynamics, and the darker aspects of human connection.
The work’s title itself suggests a paradox central to Sutchi’s artistic exploration: the contradiction between love as liberation and love as bondage. This complexity would become a hallmark of his choreographic approach.

Choreographic Style

As Sutchi’s first duet, “Slave of Love” demonstrates his emerging ability to create intimate, psychologically complex works for multiple performers. The piece showcases his talent for translating abstract emotional concepts into physical movement vocabulary, a skill that would later be evident in works like “Duck” and “Ben.”

Legacy and Impact

The success of “Slave of Love” as Sutchy’s first duet paved the way for his subsequent acclaimed works. It established him as a choreographer capable of handling complex emotional material and working effectively with different performers to realize his artistic vision.
The work’s continued performance by different casts demonstrates its enduring relevance and the universality of its themes, transcending the specific performers for whom it was originally created.

Technical Details: Choreographer: Yoni Sutchy, Year Created: 2010, Genre: Contemporary Dance, Duet Original Performers: Tom Appelbaum and Yigal Meshinsky, Later Performers: Ido Tadmor and Yoni Sutchy, Commission: Habima Festival, Rishon LeZion. Significance: Sutchy’s first duet creation

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“Duck” - A Mature and Profound Work in Israeli Dance

About the Work

“Duck” was born from the personal reflections of choreographer Yoni Sutchy on the essence of life, about someone who “wants to sit at home, not succeed and not fail, just exist.” The work was premiered in 2013 at Klipa Theater as part of the “Spotlight on New Israeli Creation” program.
Choreographer Yoni Sutchy chose to present through his work the story of a gray and lackluster person who just wants to live, but is ultimately doomed to abuse, to being “devoured.”

The Dancers and Performance

The duck is embodied by dancer Oryan Yohanan, perhaps the most wonderful dancer currently in Israel. The choice to cast Yohanan in this role creates a fascinating tension - a body that “seems born to dance” wrapped in a garment of straps, part feathers part fur, a garment with no particular beauty, sparse in feathers and lacking attractive coloration.
Alongside Yohanan dances Michal Gil, short in stature like a child, concealed in a garment that covers her entirely like a mask, and she embodies the character of the feeder who abuses the duck.

Unique Movement Language

The review notes that most of Orin’s dancing takes place while she is pressed to the floor along the full length of her body, and internal energy, like water, washes over her in turns. The movement language of the work is characterized by movements that express the duck’s limitations - progression on her knees that includes limping, awkwardness, transferring weight from knee to knee.

Critical Reception

The review in Haaretz honored the work with words of appreciation. The critic notes that the work stands out in its maturity and interest, and that Sutchy succeeds in translating this idea into surprising dance that has both beauty and depth.
In Oryan Yohanan’s performance, the movement language remains intriguing: despite being complex and strange, in her execution it appears clear and noble.

Artistic Message

The work raises profound questions about the movement touches in relationships of exploitation, of attraction and abuse between person and person and between person and animal. The critic concludes that these create different layers and interpretations for a work with depth and conceptual interest, translated into quality dance performance.
Technical Details: Choreographer: Yoni Sutchy, Creating Dancers: Oryan Yohanan and Michal Gil, Costume Design: Yoni Sutchy, Musical Editing: Shai Zornitzer, Performance Venue: Klipa Theater. Year: 2013