Rishon on Wheels "Galgale Rishon" is an Israeli folk dance troupe. It is supported by the Israeli city municipality of Rishon Le Zion and "Ilan", the Israeli Association for Handicapped Children. The troupe, consisting of 40 dancers, was established in 2003 by Ms. Orly Baor and is the largest troupe of its kind in Israel. Ms. Baor is the pioneer and founder of wheelchair folk dancing in Israel. Her vision is to help in the rehabilitation of the handicapped individual through dance and to introduce to the public the wonderful possibilities that dancing can create for the physically disabled. The dances are a blended partnership combining a wheelchair-bound individual with a standing individual and the troupe is a social and artistic bridge which symbolizes the integration of a special needs group into the community.
While the journey has only begun, the dance troupe has already received enthusiastic recognition through their numerous performances throughout Israel. The premiere performance "Chariots of Fire" was performed in July of 2004 at the community center in Rishon Le Zion. The very moving production left the audience exhilarated and awe-struck at the professionalism and versatility of the dancers. Equally memorable are the yearly performances in Israel's annual Carmiel Folk Dance Festival. There, tens of thousands of spectators, with tears in their eyes, have given repeated standing ovations.In 2006 the troupe received their first invitation to perform internationally. The performance took place in Nimes, France. Amid a cheering audience numbering in the thousands, the performance was a huge successes. The new production "Voyage to the Stars" is a blend of many different forms of dance – traditional Israeli, folk, sixties, modern, classical and jazz. It is a festival of motion, sound and rhythm which expresses beauty, love, courage, humor and achievement.
The unique experience of dance fosters and cultivates inspiration and determination in the process of physical and mental rehabilitation."A disability is like a burning fire in the bones of the suffering body and soul. It is like wandering in a desert of frustration, depression and guilt and for the suffering person, thirsty for light for one moment before he gives up completely, dancing in a wheelchair is a triumph of the spirit over the body and is truly a Voyage to the Stars".
"Chariots Of Fire"
Reshon on Wheels (Galgale Reshon) is an Israeli folk dance troupe. It is supported by the Israeli city municipality of Reshon Lezion and "Elan", the Israeli Association for Handicapped Children.
The troupe was established in 2003 by Ms. Orly Baor. Ms. Baor is known as the pioneer and founder of wheelchair folk dancing in Israel. Her vision is to help in the rehabilitation of the handicapped individual through dance and to introduce to the public the wonderful possibilities that dancing can create for the physically disabled.Galgale Reshon consists of 38 dancers and is the largest of its kind in Israel. The dances are a partnership combining a wheelchair bound individual with a standing individual. The troupe is a social and artistic bridge which symbolizes the integration of a special needs group into the community.The group has performed on numerous occasions throughout Israel. One of the highlights of these performances was at the 2004 Carmael Dance Festival, where tens of thousands of spectators, with tears in their eyes, gave a standing ovation. The performance "Chariots of Fire" is a blend of many different forms of dance – traditional Israeli, folk, sixties, modern, classical and jazz. It is a festival of motion, sound and rhythm which expresses beauty, love, courage, humour and achievement.The unique experience of dance inspires: determination and effort required in the process of physical and spiritual rehabilitation.Embarrassment, difficulties and disabilities are overcome as innermost hidden dreams are fulfilled."A disability is like a burning fire in the bones of the suffering body and soul.
It is like wandering in a desert of frustration, depression and guilt and for the suffering person, thirsty for light for one moment before he gives up completely, dancing in a wheelchair is a triumph of the spirit over the body with the sensation of soaring on Chariots of Fire".
(Written by Mr. Moshe Halperin, a dancer in the troupe)
