Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

The Israel Institute will bring Ayelet Golan, an Israeli theater director, puppeteer, and performer to the University of Central Florida for a teaching residency during the Fall 2019 semester. She will be teaching puppetry in the School of Performing Arts.

"I am excited to participate in this unique program, which will enable me to engage with students and their artistic worlds," said Golan. "I believe in the potential of everyday objects and materials to tell personal stories in new and unexpected ways, and hope that my students at the University of Central Florida will be affected by my passion to see simple items as opportunities to sail away on imaginary, transformative journeys. I want to help them understand that exciting stories surround us if we learn to see the magic in the details."

Golan's work has been presented at festivals and venues across the globe, including Israel, Europe, and the United States. She also directs and teaches in one of Israel's most prestigious junior and high school theater departments. With extensive experience as an acting coach, creative process facilitator, and dramaturg, Golan leads workshops and masterclasses in theater, object theater, and live animation for puppeteers and actors. 

The Visiting Artists Program is an initiative of the Israel Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization dedicated to expanding opportunities for university students to learn about modern Israel. The program brings outstanding Israeli filmmakers, choreographers, musicians, writers, theater practitioners, and visual artists to leading universities in North America for teaching residencies. Beyond engaging with students, visiting artists share contemporary Israeli culture with American communities.

For more information about the program, please visit https://israelinstitute.org/visitingartists.