Chutzpah! Festival

What’s in a name? For the Chutzpah! Festival in the Vancouver Jewish community, a name signifies everything that unites and celebrates Jewish artistry as well as honouring the memory of Lisa Nemetz, former dancer and arts enthusiast.

Started ten years ago under the artistic directorship of Brenda Lenly, the festival was born out of a desire to create a multi-disciplinary arts festival showcasing local, national and international artists. Chutzpah! highlights Jewish artists as well as non-Jewish artists in collaboration with Jewish artists. The shows that are chosen by artistic and managing director Marie-Louise Albert represent a Canadian perspective of Jewish identity.

According to Albert, Chutzpah! allows people to discover Jewish community and understand more about what the culture is all about. Albert herself performed at the very first festival ten years ago. She then moved on to become involved in the management of the festival, a position she has held for the past six years. She is responsible for the festival growing to the size it is today. A decade ago it started closer to home with more Vancouver-based performing arts troupes and then expanded to include acts from all over the world. By 2005 there was a significant international component, including Israeli artists who came to perform.

Albert said that like any other festival, “They start smaller and then they build and confidence builds so now it’s at the point where it is one of the mainstay festivals in the city.”

As for the catchall title, Albert said, “It has a good energetic feel to it and often people’s work as artists has courage and nerve. It sounds good. It’s recognizable.”

The festival runs for about three weeks every year, typically in February. This year the festival was held over until March because of the Olympics, and, as it gets bigger, it will likely become more spread out over the weeks.

Festival programming is now at the point where it is mainly by invitation. What Albert looks for is a high standard of professionalism and a range of three main disciplines – music, dance and theatre – and a complementary mix of companies from different places. Chutzpah! provides an opportunity for artists to develop their careers and Albert has asked groups back over years after watching some artists progress to international acclaim, like Canadian-bred dancer Aszure Barton.

This year’s Chutzpah! shows include five music ensembles, four dance shows and three theatre pieces as well as two public workshops. Performances take place at four venues throughout the city and principally in theatres of the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver. Single ticket prices range from $16 to $24.