Visitors of Time
In his latest work "Visitors of Time" premiered by Bat Dor Dance Company at the Habimah Theatre, Domy Reiter Soffer chose searing material: the thoughts of a woman who had lost both her husband and son in the wars. This might seem like a ballet d'action a story ballet- but actually it dealt with emotions more than events.
The woman Jeanette Ordman rose from slumber, sat down to meditate, and , impelled by her dreams, began a solo that expressed her loneliness and her longing.
Behind her a fleeting image of her husband Yehuda Maor had appeared, and behind an upstage scrim a sudden vision of falling figures to the sound of planes. Suddenly the woman found herself dancing with her husband. They danced for eachother, he with slow strength, she with coquettish little leaps and stretches. They combined in a beautifully elaborated duet, so lyrical and tender that the skill it required (and got) to achieve its effects didn't dominate the scene. Air and space made part of the patterns.
A son (Robin Lyon) emerged and a family trio followed, full of love and gladness, but soon the widow and the fatherless son were dancing their shared grief- until four girls in a linked line crossed the stage. One (Lea Lichtenstein) broke away to join the son. Their duet was young and playful, with fewer intricate lifts than in the parents' duet but with contrasts. Amid the sound of planes, the son disappeared. Two women were left to mourn in stark eloquent movement-and then the older woman was alone again. With happy surprise she saw her son and husband, only to be faced with horror of realization.
Throughout the music of Paul Ben Haim, taken from varies compositions, made a comment and provided stimulus. A vocalized (wordless) song sorrow to an almost unbearable point. From time to time, groups of dancers in couples and fours, in eights-travelled across the stage. The world in fact, was thereand we were in the frame of feeling. We could identify.
The whole climate of the ballet was set by the backdrop design of Eric Smith. In the vast mistiness it could have been of bodies or trees, mountains or clouds- an immensity of such stuff that dreams are made on. Yet most of all the dancing projected the drama, not only of the four principals but also of the people.
Dora Sowden- The Jerusalem Post
Jeanette Ordman featured in Domy Reiter Soffer's "Visitors of Time" provided the most excitement, she effectively displayed the sorrowful memories of a woman who lost both her husband and son in the wars.
Her petite form effortlessly overflowed with controlled movement and accentuated by brilliant technique. Strong support came from Yehuda Maor's poignant, yet powerful dramatization of the husband. The ballet was both moving and exciting.
Jane Vranish-Post Gazette
