The Georgia Straight proudly sponsors the Chutzpah! Festival 2013

The 13^th annual Chutzpah! Festival—which showcases Jewish performing arts by local, Canadian, and International artists in dance, music, theatre, film, and more—takes place in Vancouver from February 7 to march 3.

This year’s festival opens with a dance piece choreographed by Itzik Galil and performed by B.C.’s Lesley Telford and Spain’s Miguel Olivera, followed by Telford’s Brittle Failure with Japan’s Yoko Seyama, and a performance by the 605 Collective. Also in the festival are performances by Sidra Bell Dance New York, San Francisco’s LEVYdance, and Israel’s Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company led by choreographer Rami Be’er.

Chutzpah! Festival’s music program will feature Yemen Blues, the Itamar Borochov Quartet, the Idan Raichel Project Acoustic Show, Italy’s Klezmerata Fiorintina, Poland’s SHOFAR, the Olga Mieleszczuk Ensemble, and a special concert of new works by the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra.

In theatre and film, Daniel Karasik—winner of the 2011 Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition—will have his piece Haunted mounted. Additionally, The Yellow Ticket and Three Hysterical Broads Off Their Medication will be featured.

The Chutzpah! Festival takes place at various Vancouver venues, including the Norman and Annette Rothstein Theatre at the Jewish Community Centre (950 West 41^st Avenue), the Vogue Theatre (918 Granville Street), Cory Weeds Cellar Jazz Club (3611 West Broadway), and Venue (881 Granville Street).

Tickets to performances are $18 to $40 and can be purchased online, by calling the Chutzpah! box office at 604-257-5145, or Tickets Tonight at 604-684-2787.