This Library ,founded in 1975 by dancer, choreographer Anne Wilson Wangh-is the only one of its kind in Israel.
It is located at Beit Ariela Municipal Library of Tel Aviv and serves the entire country.
The nature of professional libraries is to serve the needs of very selective visitors.
The uniqueness of the Israel Dance Library is in offering various services and activities; giving guidance, direction, counseling and lectures not only for people interested in dance, but also those in other fields e.g. sociology, psychology.
The dance library places great emphasis on education and enrichment of the cultural life in Israel.
The world of dance includes many different dimensions, from folklore and communal dancing to artistic dance in all its aspects and styles. Through dance it is even possible to follow the development of human society through the ages.
The aim of the Israel Dance library is to reach as wide and varied an audience as possible in all part of the country, from an early age to adulthood, using the rich world of dance to bring people close to the wide world of culture.
The Collections
The Library collections cover all fields of dance and movement in Israel and the world.
1. Approximately 5000 books in different languages: English, Hebrew, French, Russian, Spanish, Italian, German, Swedish, Danish, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese and Hungarian. Include: History of Dance, Biographies, Dance photographs, Makeup, Costumes and Apparel in different styles and from different eras, Dance therapy and Dance education.
2. Approximately 3000 dance creations on video; from different periods starting from the beginning of artistic dance until today; folklore from all over the world; and dance and movement therapy.
3. Journals in different languages dating back to 1926.
4. Archives documenting dance and dancers in Israel about artistic performances from the beginning of the dance in Israel, including Israeli folk dance companies and ethnic groups prevalent in Israel.
5. International Archives which cover dance activities all over the world, in various fields.
6. Valuable historic costumes, accessories, pictures, albums and documentations of some of the most famous dancers and dance personalities of the century, that have been donated to the library.
All collections of The Dance Library of Israel may only be viewed on the premises. Video viewing by appointment only.
About Estelle Sommers
Born the seventh child of a loving Baltimore Maryland family, Estelle Sommers lived a charmed life and would soon discover dance which became a first love.
In 1947 in Cincinnati, Ohio, during her first marriage and three daughters,she converted a moderately successful piece goods retail business into a dance supply business and then she designed ready-to wear dance costumes and sold them to dance studios.
Her involvement with the retail dancewear led to the meeting with Ben Sommers, at that time president of Capezio. Her marriage to Ben in 1962 was described in dance circles as "the romance of the decade" and continued until his death in 1985.
Estelle's devotion to philanthropic causes and organizations included chairmanship of the National Advisory Council, International Ballet Competition, Jackson, Mississippi, acting president of the International Dance Alliance (founded by Ben Sommers),
Overseers Board of the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. She also served on the boards of the Dance Notation Bureau, the America-Israel Cultural Foundation, the Center for Dance Medicine, the Joffrey School of Ballet, the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries, the Israel Folk Dance Institute, Career Transitions for Dancers and the Yard - an artist colony for dance on Martha's Vineyard.
Estelle was the driving force behind the International Committee for the Dance Library of Israel and for over 15 years her energies were focused on building a major source of dance knowledge in the middle east.
Her dreams have been fulfilled for the dance library of Israel is now considered to be the second most important archive of dance materials in the world next only to the dance collections at Lincoln Center (New York City).
Estelle Sommers was presented with The Dance Library of Israel Documents of Dance Award in 1993.
In her acceptance speech she stated " I have always cherished my family, Israel and dance..." Although she was not a choreographer, artistic director or dance company manager, dance was her life.
Her legacy is one of involvement energy, caring and vision. Estelle Sommers left much of herself with many and she'll always be cherished and remembered for her elegant and gracious manner, her love of life and her love of dance.
The support
The Dance library is partially supported by the Municipality of Tel Aviv- Yafo, who for this purpose receives an allowance from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport. In addition support comes from the International Committee for the Dance Library of Israel whose offices are situated in New York.
This committee works towards obtaining contributions for financing projects to expand the Library and sends books, journals, video films and many valuable collections pertaining to dance.
Contact information
Mrs. Talia Perlshtein- Kadury, Director Dance Library of Israel
Address: Beit Ariela Municipal Library
25 Rehov Shaul Hamelech Tel-Aviv, 64367 Israel
Phone : 972-3-6910141 ext -268
Fax :972-3-696-5645
e-mail : dancelibrary@hotmail.com
Web : www.dancelibrary.org.il
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday : 14.00-18.00
Tuesday, Thursday : 10.00-14.00
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