“The Kaet Dance Ensemble brings up questions about the human body of the Israeli-Jewish man, which goes through rapid changes and dilemmas regarding his masculine identity. Does the body still carry the Torah and the spirit within, or [is it simply made up of] muscles and flesh of a soldier-athlete? [The ensemble] offers a third possibility, the fusion that is created in the complexity of the Israeli lab.” This is how the Kaet Dance Ensemble, a dance troupe consisting of religious men in yarmulkes (traditional Jewish skullcaps), describes itself through one of its works, titled “Heroes.”
The ensemble has a unique message for contemporary Israeli culture: Religious men are also allowed to dance, and Jewish heritage certainly plays its part. Their performances consist of a combination of modern dance moves with Jewish elements such as the motions used in prayer and various religious texts. The dancers sometimes appear in ultra-Orthodox garb.
