Ofra and Ruby are both widely-recognized Jerusalem artists as well as activists in the city’s artistic and cultural scene. For the past decade, MASH has been providing professional assistance and guidance in all aspects of creative artistry for independent dance artists, to benefit the audience and to develop Jerusalem's cultural and artistic milieu. In 2011, for its social and artistic contributi
on to the city, Machol Shalem was officially recognized as a Jerusalem Center for Dance Arts by the Cultural Authority of the Israel Ministry of Culture and Sports. The center has worked diligently and continuously to provide a professional infrastructure for artists, in the hopes of persuading graduates of Jerusalem's art academies to remain in the city, rather than follow the majority that migrates to Tel Aviv. It also markets and promotes Jerusalem as a free and liberal city. Over the years, MASH has functioned as an umbrella organization for independent dance artists in Jerusalem. The organization has hosted various local and international artists, striving to establish a professional, modern cultural center. During the past 10 years MASH has broadened its scope of activity, creating a rehearsal space for local artists and establishing its own performance hall. The hall is among Jerusalem's most active performance spaces, serving artists from all performing disciplines. It also provides professional assistance and support to students and novice and professional artists from Israel and abroad. Alongside its ongoing activity, the organization also produces a yearly international dance festival, which aims to promote local independent dance pieces, international collaborations, residency programs and artist exchange programs. Participating artists in The Machol Shalem International Dance Festivals over the years have included: Yasmeen Godder, The Batsheva Dance Company, Renana Raz, Niv Sheinfeld, Nimrod Freed, Noa Dar, Tamar Borer, Ido Tadmor, Talia Paz, Nigel Charnok (of Great Britain), Claudia Hauri (of Holand), and many other artists. Various works produced and co-produced by MASH have won international esteem, and participated in diverse competitions and festivals worldwide, including Bytom, Dresden, Dar-A-Salam (Tanzania), Zurich, Warsaw, Zagreb, Berlin, Amsterdam, Singapore, and more. The activities of MASH are supported by The Israel Ministry of Culture and Sports, The Jerusalem Municipality, and The Jerusalem Foundation, in cooperation with The Israeli Choreographers Association. Special projects are supported by The Israeli Lottery Council, The Goethe Institute, Eden Company of the Jerusalem Development Authority, and The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCAuIj1fZ08
