Artist Spotlight: Ronit Ziv
Ronit Ziv in “French for Beginners”. Photo: Gadi Dagon
In 1999, Ronit Ziv founded her own dance company in Tel-Aviv. The Ronit Ziv Ensemble has participated in over 20 productions, and Ronit was the co-artistic director of the Curtain Up festival at Suzanne Dellal, Tel-Aviv. Ronit holds an M.A. degree in Performance Arts Research from Tel-Aviv University. She studied drama at Beit-Zvi Academy of Performing Arts.
Ronit was awarded the 2002 and 2005 Ministry of Culture Award for young choreographers. She continues to develop artistic encounters and dynamic exchanges, collaborating with numerous international choreographers and artists from different disciplines in Israel and Europe.
What or who inspired you to want to be an artist?
Ever since childhood I’ve been very creative – dancing, writing, studying theater – I could never imagine myself having a “real” job. I was attracted to the cinema, museums, walking on the sea shore, dreaming about some far away places, and that one day I will do something important. That day had arrived and I realized that I wanted to become a choreographer.
What was your creative journey that has brought you to where you are in your career today?
I had ballet and modern dance training in my childhood, then when I studied at Thelma Yellin High school, I studied Theater. After my military service, I studied acting at Beit Zvi but I felt that I wanted to be an artist that works with movement and creates choreography. I started making my own choreography and the audience loved it, so I continued.
What do you need as an artist today?
When I was working on a choreography for my new piece that premiered this Summer, I realize that it’s important to have a studio that will allow me to work more.
What creative project are you working on now?
I just had a premiere of a work titled Say It Once Only and Never Twice. A month after the premiere, I will be at a residence program for artists at the Schusterman Foundation. I will be a guest choreographer at Scripps College and Pomona College.
Where do you see yourself and your career in 10 years?
Developing a method and having a school for dancers and choreographers.
What does it mean to you to be an Israeli artist?
Working on elevated levels of energy; dreaming, eating and sleeping the creation process; creating against all odds.
What does it mean to you to have an organization like the America-Israel Cultural Foundation supporting Israeli culture in the past 78 years?
I believe that arts need to be supported and that the America-Israel Cultural Foundation is instrumental in creating education opportunities for Israeli artists.
