The 2012 Hullegeb Festival

The Confederation House presents the 2012 Hullegeb Festival. The festival places a spotlight on Ethiopian culture, placing Ethiopian-Israeli performing arts center stage with a collection of theatre, dance, and music performances. Participating artists include Din Din Aviv, Abeta Brihun, Alon Yofah, Esther Rada, the "Beta" Dance Group, and others. This year's festival features six productions.

The festival will take place from December 20-27 in various venues around Jerusalem.

The 2012 Hullegeb Festival Program:

Opening performance
Din Din Aviv, Abate Berihun and Alon Yaffe
Desert Song
Thursday, 20 December 2012, 21:00, Beit Shmuel

A special Festival production is an encounter between three artists who recreate the atmosphere surrounding the life of desert nomads. Ethiopian folk songs and melodies alongside songs by Din Din Aviv will be performed in arrangements emphasizing the simplicity and cyclical nature of desert life.

Din Din Aviv-vocals; Abate Berihun-vocals and saxophone; Alon Yoffe-percussion and vocals; Amos Hoffman-oud and guitar; Yankele Segal-bass; Shaul Besser-keyboard

Beta:
And (one)
Sunday, 23 December 2012, 20:30, Gerard Behar Center, Leo Model Hall

A new work by the Beta Dance Company. Beta means house in Amharic. This work is an encounter between traditional Ethiopian and contemporary dance: a medley of episodes incorporating intimate and restrained movements alongside boldly aggressive ones.

Ruth Eshel - founder and artistic director; Tzvika Hizikias-acting director; Tzvika Hizikias, Moriya Avraham, Tal Fisher, Shiri Capueno Kuantz - dansers

Nephesh Theatre
One of a Kind
Monday, 24 December 2012, Gerard Behar Center, Leo Model Hall

The story of the personal journey of a boy from Ethiopia called One of a Kind, through the deserts of Sudan to Jerusalem. The play won first prize in the Haifa international Festival for Children Theater in 2005 and was awarded Play of the Year by the Israeli Center for Children and Youth Theater - ASSITEJ-in 2006.

Shay Ben Atar-staging; Yossi Vassa, Mahareta Baruch Ron, Shay Fredo/Shay Zviv, Tehitina Assefa, Sky Gette, Yaniv Calderon and Beyne Getahon - actors

Abate Berihun:
Ethiopian Folk and Modern Music
Tuesday 25 December 2012, Confederation House

Saxophonist, vocalist and composer Abate Berihun breathes new life into traditional songs hundreds of years old from the Ethiopian musical heritage, along with works of contemporary vocalists such as Mahmoud Ahmed, Koko Sasaba and Aster Aweke (known as "the Ethiopian Aretha Franklin").

Abate Berihun-saxophone; Shay Becher-keyboard; Amra Hilu -vocals; Zenebe Begashaw -drums; Eran Horowitz-bass

Ester Rada:
Solo Performance Premier
Wednesday, 26 December 2012, Confederation House

Ester Rada is a vocal artist and actress engaged in a promising solo career. Her voice is deep and moving, her texts powerful and her stage presence rare. Her musical world elegantly combines soul, rhythm and blues, ethio-jazz and funk. Rada's first mini-album was released this autumn produced by Kuti (Kutiman) and Sabo (Soulico).

Ester Rada-vocals; Lior Romano-keyboard; Michael Guy-bass; Dan Mayo-drums; Ben Jose-drums; Maayan Maylo-trombone; Yinon Peretz-trumpet; Gal Dahan-saxophone
Program arranger: Nadav Peled

The Hullegeb Israeli-Ethiopian Theater
Mandefro Feredeh (who would dare judge)
Thursday, 27 December 2012, 19:00, 21:00, Confederation House

A monodrama centered around the story of citizen Mandefro Feredeh. One day police arrive at his house with a court order forcing him to leave the premises. His neighbor, it turns out, registered a complaint against him and he has been accused of violence against his wife and attacking police officers. During his trial, secrets of the complainant and the defendant are revealed, leading to a surprising ending.

Moshe Malka-script and direction; Beyne Getahon-actor; Nava Shtar-set and costuming; Abate Berihun-music; Albert Yeshinski, lighting design; Doron Tsirulnik, video art Nir Landa--management

Photo: Hanefesh Theater by Stephanie Berger