International Collaboration in Theater Studies at the [six!] Summer School in Chicago

Bella Litvak, Itay Peretz, Yaarit Rachamim Avrutzky, and Lahav Timor attended [six!], an international summer school run by a consortium of six universities: Northwestern University (USA), Cologne University (Germany), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Chile), JNU (India), University of Ghana, and Tel Aviv University (Israel). TAU students were accompanied by Prof. Sharon Aronson-Lehavi and Dr. Ruthie Abeliovich from the Department of Theater Arts who taught in the summer school. The trip was made possible with the generous support from the Lowy International School.

Prof. Sharon Aronson-Lehavi, associate professor of theatre and performance studies at the Department of Theatre Arts. Her research focuses on the relations between ritual, religion and theatre in the late medieval and modern periods, and she also works on feminist theatre and Israeli theatre and performance.

"The seminar is a formative experience for the participants, exposing them to high level scholarship and to leading scholars in the field and giving them a unique opportunity of global and intercultural exchange."—Prof. Aronson–Lehavi

Dr Ruthie Abeliovich  (center) is an assistant professor at the Department of Theatre Arts, where she teaches and researches in the fields of Jewish theatre and performance, popular culture, theatre history, sound, voice and media

"Students are exposed to each other’s sets of values and political realities. We meet and become friends, connecting on personal, institutional, and scholarly levels."—Dr. Ruthie Abeliovich

The [six!] project is unique in giving international students a platform for high-level professional discussions in a very friendly setting, with high sensitivity to the fact that English is not the native language of most participants.

Interested in studying in English at the TAU Faculty of Arts? Apply to the MFA in Documentary Cinema program to learn from the best in the Israeli cinema industry. 

Join the info session on August 7 to find out more about the admissions and studies.

Translation and Intercultural Performance

The project started during the times of COVID to promote exchange of ideas and multicultural dialogue among students and faculty from different cultures. The first workshop focused on international theater festivals. 

One of the seminars during the summer school

This year, the summer school offered two main seminars: Critical Media History and Performance and Untranslatability—two themes that are at the forefront of theater and performance studies.

In the Untranslatability seminar, participants examined how the practice of translation in theater can reinforce, challenge, and reshuffle existing cultural hierarchies between languages and artistic practices. The seminar encouraged a transdisciplinary approach to studying translation, considering performativity of the body, race, gender, colonial and decolonial dynamics, and class.

Bella Litvak with her poster presentation

The seminar focused on the strategies used in cross-cultural productions through remixing, adapting, and layering historical repertoires in contemporary contexts. Bella Litvak, an MA student researching women’s solo performance in stand-up comedy, commented:

"It really helped my research, by thinking about feminine body language, humor, and performativity. We were asking ourselves how can we translate humor and gendered gestures cross-culturally." 

The Critical Media History and Performance seminar explored the role of media in bridging performance practices across historical and multicultural contexts. It highlighted the entanglements between mediation and cultural circulation, offering new perspectives on studying theater and performance history.

"We encouraged students to explore how they know what they know – in the sense of understanding how narratives are built not only textually but also through the multitude of media that construct performance."—Prof. Aronson–Lehavi

Yaarit Rachamim Avrutzky presenting at the summer school

The seminar was significant for Yaarit Rachamim Avrutzky and her MA research on feminist art, performance, and the public sphere in Israel:

"I gained insights into the strategies employed by feminist artists—such as crossing gender boundaries and remakings of traditional texts—that resonate with the broader themes of power, oppression, and resistance that I explore in my thesis." 

For her thesis, Avrutzky examines representations of the objectification of the female body that challenge patriarchal ideologies. By exploring performances connected to public spheres such as legal systems, political demonstrations in the streets and town squares, and religious rituals, her study uncovers how feminist artists are reshaping social norms and amplifying silenced female voices. 

Lahav Timor at the summer school's wrap-up panel

Lahav Timor, who is in the early stages of writing his PhD thesis, took part in the Critical Media History and Performance seminar as part of his work on rituals in the Israeli context.

Collaborative Learning Across Cultures

The opportunity to interact with peers and faculty from different cultural backgrounds and build international connections is what makes [six!] particularly valuable.

Summer school faculty

In addition to participating in seminars, students also presented their research through posters, three-minute theses, and collaborative assignments. Feedback and comments from the faculty of the six universities helped them see how their ideas resonate.

"We wanted to give students an opportunity to network with graduate students from around the world and also to talk informally to the faculty,"—Dr. Abeliovich

As Litvak notes, "these conversations and the personal meetings were really helpful for me. I got a lot of good advice from the professors I met at the seminar."

Itay Peretz with his poster presentation

For the wrap-up panel, students presented concepts and ideas they formulated during the week. They also worked on group projects reflecting on their visit to the Museum of the History of Chicago and the curatorial approach of the museum to representing the city of Chicago. 

From Theaters to Baseball: Cultural Immersion in Chicago

The summer school also included a rich social and cultural program. The students attended a theater production of Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities and experienced the energy of American sportsmanship at a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants. The week concluded with a cruise, showcasing the architectural history of Chicago and the city’s stunning skyline. 

Summer school participants

"At the end of the seminar, we swapped coffee mugs that each of the students brought from their home. Now every time we drink coffee we remember this unique experience of our unforgettable week in Chicago,"—shared Lahav Timor.  "It was a privilege to attend the [six!] summer school," added Itay Peretz. 

"The seminars, discussions, and cultural activities have left a lasting impact on my academic journey. It was an empowering and academically enriching experience."—Itay Peretz

Interested in studying in English at the TAU Faculty of Arts?

Apply to the MFA in Documentary Cinema program to learn from the best in the Israeli cinema industry.

Join the info session on August 7 to find out more about the admissions and studies.