Last Thoughts on International Touring

In this concluding blog about our Italy tour Kezia and I share some of our favorite non-dance memories.  Certainly one part of touring is when we have a free day or two.  On the tour to Pitigliano, Kezia and I arranged to have several days to sightsee after the performance before returning to New York. 

One of Kezia’s favorite memories is having to stop the car for a significant time on our way to Pitigliano to allow a flock of sheep to cross the road.  She remembers that their bells made wonderful music, and that Deborah spoke to the shepherd and translated for us.  He was carrying a little lamb because he said she was tired and kept lying down in the road and crying when she couldn’t keep up with the other sheep.

A favorite memory of mine was watching Deborah’s mother-in-law make gnocchi from scratch and of course getting to enjoy eating it afterwards. 

 I also loved our time soaking in a hot spring,

In the February 2000 Avodah Newsletter, Kezia wrote about some of our adventures sightseeing:

As tourists in magical Florence, we strolled into innumerable churches, each graced by masterpieces of art, so much a part of their surrounding spiritual home and purpose that often no nameplate is even provided to identify the artist.  And regardless of one’s religion, when the church bells ring at twilight in Florence, one is filled with joy.  In stark contrast to the gentleness of Florence, the astounding massiveness of Rome was like walking at the feet of elephants.  Surprisingly, St. Peter’s, even more enormous than it appears on television, by genius of design, offers an undeniable sense of embrace, even to these two Jewish visitors.

On Shabbat, JoAnne and I attended services in the old Jewish section of Rome.  The architecture of the temple was of a style similar to that of churches we had visited, and the unexpected acoustical effect of this kinship was that the chanting in the service took on a nearly Gregorian quality.  The text of individual prayers and readings was indistinguishable, replaced by an engulfing hum.  The women’s section, up a long flight of stairs, was separated from the downstairs men’s section by an iron gate so densely and intricately patterned that one could barely see through it – as intended.  But I suffered no shortage of spiritual sustenance in this country where religion has been the inspiration for glorious architecture, serene and achingly sad painting and sculpture, heart-soaring music and people of deep warmth and courage.  When I looked out my window during the flight back to New York and saw how easily the Italian Alps reach right above the clouds, I was not in the least surprised.

Closing thought from JoAnne: I am so grateful for the dedication of the dancers who were part of Avodah, both when they were in the company and afterwards.  In particular, to Deborah — who organized and made this tour possible, including rehearsing her dancers and performing in the concert —  and to Kezia — who shared this experience with us, helping in staging and performing, and then sharing time together sightseeing with me – a deep bow of gratitude.  

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