About ATARA

MISSION
To encourage artistically gifted observant Jews to develop and express their gifts.

ATARA is the Arts and Torah Association for Religious Artists, a group which supports the work of creative and performing artists according to the values of the Torah. ATARA facilitates community-building among artists with the common value of Torah observance by hosting a bi-annual weekend of workshops and performances for these artists and by maintaining an online network for publicizing and learning about new work. ATARA aims to provide resources and opportunities for artists in the Torah observant community to continue their work. Resources and opportunities include a journal of articles on the topic of The Arts within a Torah framework, a list of classes, services and events conducted according to the values of Torah available to artists or patrons of the arts, a bi-annual CD compilation of women’s only original music, and a script database for plays and musicals suitable for a Torah-observant audience.

CORE VALUES

• Sensitivity ATARA demonstrates sensitivity to both the creative needs of artists as well as a range of religious outlooks among audience members.
• Industry ATARA encourages the utilization of creative talent in the service of religious values to bring meaning and beauty to others.
• Community ATARA encourages relationship building, social networking and professional collaboration.
• Quality ATARA supports artists in maintaining the quality of both their art and their religious life.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: Why ATARA? Why Now?

Jewish tradition teaches that G-d does not ask us to perform the impossible. If He grants individuals the ability to communicate through theater, music and dance, while also a legal standard by which to live, then creative expression according to these standards is possible. Further, in that the perfect world is the open expression of Divine values, the expression of art according to these values is not only possible, but ideal.

One example of a legal standard applicable to creative expression is the need for exclusively female audiences if performers are women. A second example is the assurance that material performed will not contradict the values of Jewish tradition. These circumstances cannot be guaranteed in the secular performing arts environment. Therefore, special effort is needed to create opportunity and provide support for artists adhering to traditional values.

Without opportunities and support, observant artists may be forced to choose one value over another, G-d forbid abandoning either their commitment to Jewish law, or their art. While the importance of upholding Jewish law cannot be underestimated, artistic expression can also be considered essential for optimal religious service. Arts can be understood as mediums through which to serve G-d, communicate spiritual ideas, and help others. Music, dance, drama, visual art and creative writing have the capacity to bring joy to both those engaged in it and those absorbing it, be used as a tool for education, and improve both emotional and physical health. The abandonment of this important range of expression is untenable for any spiritual community, as is the compromise of Torah values. Living with both is an imperative.

In the last several years, the efforts of observant Jews in the field of performing arts have increased, contributing to the emergence of a global community of artists engaged in similar work. By recognizing our shared goals and finding ways to connect, we can communicate about our work for the purpose of helping each other, as well as strengthening the resources and opportunities for creative work in traditional communities.

In order to strengthen the expression of art in accordance with Jewish law, therefore, the individuals and groups involved in ATARA have created a network for the community of performing artists who adhere to traditional standards. The individuals involved in the ATARA initiative are observant artists worldwide who have struggled to create performing art opportunities in traditional communities until now independently. London, Israel, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Cleveland, Toronto and New York are regions represented in the community seeking to establish this professional network. Together, this network group will be able to provide an even stronger framework for the global community of observant artists, providing educational workshops, social and professional communication between artists, and support for creative exploration and development within the framework of Jewish law.

We hope that those previously forced to choose only one value will be able to find a comfortable form of expression within the boundaries of traditional law, that observant artists will have greater resources and opportunities for creative exploration, and that performing art can be used to express traditional values, as well as add beauty to our community and world.

ATARA BOARD 2009

Leah Chwaiewsky has trained in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern and Musical Theatre at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Academy of Dance in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Leah has performed in a wide variety of productions throughout Western Canada and had the privilege of assisting in choreographing the opening and closing ceremonies of the Pan Am Games.

Miriam Leah Droz studied musical theater under Kenneth Gargaro, the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts, Carnegie Mellon pre-college, and Penn State University musical theater BFA program, and performed leading roles throughout high school and college. In 1999, Miriam halted her pursuit of performing arts for commitment to religion. In 2006, within her new religious framework, she directed a musical for women only, A, My Name is Alice, coordinated a showcase for Professional Women’s Theater, and began the formation of ATARA. She has chaired the 2007 & 2008 conferences, and most recently, directed a women’s only feature film, The House on Riverside. She has written and is currently directing an original musical about lives of women in the orthodox community.

Robin Garbose began her directing career in the theater. In New York and Los Angeles, Robin directed some 35 plays at theaters including: Ensemble Studio Theater, Jewish Repertory Theater, Manhattan Punch Line, Juilliard Theater Center and the Odyssey Theatre. She has directed such noted actors as Laura Linney, Jon Tenney, Peter Riegert, Helen Slater, Ricki Lake, Jason Alexander, Judd Nelson and Bruno Kirby. Her television credits include Head of the Class and America’s Most Wanted, where she directed numerous film reenactments, helping to apprehend fugitives. Robin co-wrote the screenplay, The Spark, about a Jewish girl's search for faith which was selected to participate in the Sundance Institute Writers Lab. Most recently, Robin directed the acclaimed documentary Inspired, produced by Aish HaTorah, Roots, a musical play based on the Memoirs of the Frierdiker Rebbe, Camp Bnos Yisrael, a new musical DVD series for girls, as well as numerous productions for Kol Neshama Performing Arts Conservatory where she is Artistic Director. Robin’s feature film directorial debut, A Light for Greytowers, is currently in post production. Robin is a graduate of Brown University and a member of the Director’s Guild of America. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and producing/writing partner, Levi Yitzhaq and their children.

Amy (Gordon) Guterson has her BA from Stern College, Yeshiva University, where she was the school’s first theatre major. She studied acting with Uta Hagen, and Mike Nichols, and has trained intensively in improvisation with Paul Sills. Amy is a graduate of The New Actors Workshop, a graduate level program in acting. A member of Actor’s Equity, Amy performed Off- Broadway before returning to observance. Now living in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and four children (ages 3-15), Amy has found new ways to express her creativity and skills. Twelve years ago she co-founded the Kol Isha Theatre group which consists of Jewish women from across the spectrum of Judaism. As Artistic Director for the group, Amy has taught acting and improvisation and directed play development for most of the group’s original productions and workshops (based on issues of Jewish womanhood and Jewish unity / disunity). She also has written and directed some of the groups full length plays, trigger scenes and workshops. Amy wrote, directed and produced the film “Becoming Rachel”, which premiered at the Pittsburgh Jewish/Israeli Film Festival and has been screened at festivals across the country (and currently in Israel). She also performs with Pittsburgh Playback Theatre, which “plays back” its audience’s stories and feelings through improvisation. Amy can be seen on screen as Agent Emes’ mother in the Agent Emes video series.

Kari Isaacson has performed and trained in modern dance and contact improvisation across Canada . She has danced since childhood, studying a variety of contemporary styles as well as musical theatre, tap, jazz, ballet, stilt walking and acting. Kari has also worked as a stage manager and in theatre publicity, production and administration for companies both large and small in Toronto including Livent Inc. Kari is a founding member of the Toronto dance and performance collective Koleinu, creating weekly dance classes for Jewish women, and an annual performance fundraiser. Kari is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner having studied under a number of Moshe Feldenkrais’ original students. She currently practices Feldenkrais in Toronto, teaching people of all abilities how to improve the quality of their lives by improving the quality of their movement. www.improvehowyoumove.com

Rivka Lomiansky has been a professional performer for over 15 years and has a tremendous amount of training in acting, dance and voice. She has studied at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, as well as at the Toronto-based comedic workshop Second City and with top coaches in Los Angeles. Rivka began singing classically at a young age, and has taken a wide range of dance lessons since the age of three, from jazz, ballet and tap to hip hop. Rivka has appeared in feature films, played leading and supporting roles in T.V series, and has been seen in many commercials. She has performed song and dance in concert all over Canada and the United States, also making many T.V and radio appearances debuting those talents. Rivka is a co-founder of Koleinu, a women’s dance troupe from Toronto. She is also currently running Toronto’s first musical theatre program for Torah-observant girls, called Neshama Theatre Troupe. The program has a strong focus on creativity and positive body image and culminates in a full-scale theatre production. www.neshamatheatre.com

Esther Leah Marchette is a singer, songwriter and former cantor who has been involved with music from a young age. She holds a B.A. in Songwriting from Berklee College of Music in Boston, which included studies in classical and contemporary composition, lyric writing, advanced music theory, jazz and rock arranging. Esther Leah plays piano, guitar and percussion. In high school and college, she performed in musical theatre productions, sang in choirs and ensemble groups and directed an a cappella singing group at Yale University. In her early 20s, she worked as a cantor for a number of years until making the transition to embracing a Chassidic way of life. Since that time, Esther Leah occasionally performs for women as well as leading classes and workshops in Jewish Spirituality. Currently Esther Leah works as the manager of a software company, organizes events and classes as co-director of the Boston Breslov Connection, and raises her children with her husband in Boston, MA.

Henye Meyer, a writer and theatre director in Manchester, England, has two published novels and an upcoming work to appear shortly as a serial in Hamodia. She has written articles for the BBC, Jewish Observer, Jewish Tribune, and the Jewish Homemaker, as well as comedy routines and eight full length plays and musical comedies. In 2005, she and a friend founded a women’s theater group in Manchester, PACE. She has produced as well as performed in its plays, written some of the music, edited two DVD's and designed their packaging, and is responsible for business management of the company. Her work has been very warmly received by the local community. She holds a BA from Brandeis and has training in writing, speech and drama, voice, and music transcription. Henye works part-time and is a grandmother.

Yochana Chava Pollak is a third generation artist originally from New Haven, Ct. and presently living in Jerusalem. She uses various mediums: paints, collages, and ink, and often paints phrases of Jewish teaching. Her style is whimsical and conveys simchat chayim, love of life. Yochana Chava studied Fine arts at Emuna College, Illustration and Design at Pratt, Cooper Union, SVA and Parsons Art Therapy, Drama Therapy and Creative Writing in the New School for Social Research. She has close to 20 years of teaching experience, and founded and ran RLT (“The Road Less Traveled”) a creative road trip camp for girls on the US West Coast.

Yocheved Polonsky, dancer and dance educator founded the CLI institute of dance, in Cleveland, Ohio, a Judaic dance and movement arts studio, to provide a holistic Jewish enviroment for the study of dance. The creation of CLI was inspired by her sincere desire to integrate the beauty of movement with the lofty spiritual messages and values of Torah, which was lacking in the local dance community. Her studio provides fun, dynamic classes in creative movement, ballet, Jazz, Pilates and Aleph Beis movement meditation, for women only. She travels worldwide to share her inspiration and vision through her workshops and performances: her belief that every person can utilize their natural talents and gifts to praise and connect with Hashem.

Miriam Sherr, mother of 9 and proud grandmother, lives in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. An actress, chef, and community leader behind-the-scenes, Miriam has been instrumental in the success of events for Simchas Chasan V’Kallah and many other local charities.

Aviva Speigel co-directs Chabad House Jewish Student Center at the University of Oregon with her husband Rabbi Asi. Aviva received her degree in Human Biology from Stanford University with a concentration in Psycho-Bio-Social Aspects of Identity and Expression and what should have been a minor in Contact Improvisation Dance, which she took almost every quarter of her university career! The techniques, format, and endless playful exercises of the school of Contact Improvisation Dance have been fundamental in the formation of her workshops. Trained as a competitive gymnast and a pianist, and an avid skiier, Aviva's passion remains with dance, music, and pushing her limits in harmony with the natural world. Before opening Chabad in Eugene, She organized and ran creative art and movement workshops for women and girls and two successful all women's performances in Jerusalem and New York. Her journey to Yiddishkeit began with her intense interest in holisitic healing, which led to several grants to research concepts of Jewish health and healing in Israel, and ultimately a thesis for University. This research project opened up the path for Aviva to delve more deeply into her Jewish roots. A passion for healing and personal transformation as well as an unwavering mission of spreading the wellsprings of Chassidus forms the central motivation for the creation of her classes and workshops for women.