Yardena Cohen - First Prize in a National Dance Competition, 1937 - First Original Dance Competition in Eretz Israel

Yardena Cohen - First Prize in a National Dance Competition, 1937 - First Original Dance Competition in Eretz Israel
Bronze plaque, "Wandering trophy of the Tel-Aviv Township for Creators of Jewish Dance in the Country". Awarded to dancer and choreographer Yardena Cohen for winning a national dance competition. [Tel-Aviv, 1937].
Plaque shaped as a shield (emblem of Tel-Aviv). Emblem of Tel-Aviv appears on top (lighthouse with light beams and a round entrance gate). A dancer's figure with a drum [Miriam the Prophet?] is embossed in the center, on the background of the seashore, surrounded by dancing pioneers. Above and below appears the inscription "Wandering trophy of Tel-Aviv to creators of Jewish dance in Eretz Israel" (Hebrew). Three cartouches, shapes as a shield, with engraved inscription appear on the margins: "For the year 1937", "For the year 1939" "for the year [1940]". In the cartouche for 1937 the name of the receiver is added: "Yardena Cohen, Haifa". It seems that no additional competitions were held in the following years, which explains why the two other cartouches are blank.
Yardena Cohen (1910-2012), dancer, choreographer and dance teacher, one of the pioneers of dance in Eretz Israel, awarded the Prize of Israel in 2010. Cohen was born in Haifa. In 1930 she moved to Vienna to learn dance, and later moved to Dresden where she studied with the dancer and choreographer Gert Palucca. Returned to Haifa in 1933 and taught gymnastics in the girls' school "Mizrahi". At the time she was inspired by oriental music and by the bible. Many of her dances were inspired by biblical women.
In 1937 she won the first prize (presented here) in the first original dance competition held in Eretz Israel, in the "Mugrabi" hall in Tel-Aviv. Among the judges: Leah Goldberg, Shaul Tchernichovsky, Uri Keisari and Sami Grunmann.
For additional information about her see: "Lirkod im HaChalom…1920-1964", Ruth Eshel. Sifriyat HaPoalim, Hasifriya LeMachol beIsrael, 1991.
15.5X23 cm.
Objects – Judaica & Israeliana