Rami Be’er

Rami Be'er is one of Israel's foremost choreographers and serves as the Artistic Director of Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company (KCDC). Be'er began his journey as a dancer before being inspired by company founder Yehudit Arnon to take on roles as a Choreographer and Assistant to the Artistic Director. Over the past three decades, he has steered the company toward critical acclaim and elevated its profile both in Israel and around the globe. His innovative choreography and distinctive movement language, which are taught in dance centers and academies worldwide, have established KCDC as a powerhouse in the dance community. Under Beer's leadership, KCDC has launched a second company, KCDC 2, and established the International Dance Village at its home in Kibbutz Ga'aton, nestled in the picturesque Western Galilee of northern Israel. This groundbreaking facility hosts hundreds of dance students annually through its international programs, including the 5-month Dance Journey study abroad program and the renowned Kibbutz Summer Intensive, attracting emerging professional dancers, budding choreographers, and visitors from across the globe.

Rami Be'er was born in 1957 in Kibbutz Ga'aton. His parents, Holocaust survivors from Hungary and among the kibbutz founders, instilled in their children the love of music, literature and the visual Arts. His father, an architect and amateur violinist, formed in the kibbutz, together with his children, a chamber ensemble in which Rami played the cello. He grew up in the kibbutz's collective education system, and while playing the cello, he also studied at the dance studio founded by Yehudit Arnon, alongside the dance company she established in the kibbutz just a few years earlier. As a teenager, he was an instructor in Hashomer Hatzair youth movement. Despite being accepted as a dancer in a military band, Be'er chose to serve in the elite combat unit, Sayeret Matkal. Later, he continued to serve as a reservist, participating in the first Lebanon War, an experience that marked him and resonates in his works. In 1980, he joined KCDC as a dancer and simultaneously was invited to choreograph for the company. In 1987, Be'er was appointed the company's resident choreographer and assistant to the Artistic Director, Yehudit Arnon.

In 1996, following the retirement of Yehudit Arnon, who had mentored him from his early days as a student, dancer and choreographer, Rami Be'er took over the artistic direction of KCDC. Under his leadership, the company became a leading and influential cultural entity in both the Israeli and international dance scenes, a symbol of artistic excellence. Be'er created over fifty choreographic creations for the company, many of which became inseparable part of the canon of Israeli dance, earning acclaim and awards. Under his leadership, the company became one of the leading institutions of Israeli culture and a cultural ambassador, receiving critical and audience praise. KCDC has performed on stages and reached audiences in numerous countries, including Australia, the USA, Mexico, Chile, South Korea, China, India, Russia, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus and more.

Be'er brought with him substantial energy and spearheaded a revolution with numerous initiatives, including the establishment of the second company, KCDC 2 – a training ground for exceptional young dancers – which opened doors to an audience of children, teenagers and families. KCDC 2, founded in 1994, eventually became a separate and successful company with its own repertoire. Many of his works for children - such as "The Carnival of the Animals" (Music by Camille Saint-Saens), "Peter and the Wolf" (Music by Prokofiev) and "A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" (Music by Benjamin Britten) – became classics, introducing thousands of children and teenagers to the world of dance and classical music.

In 2006, under Rami Be'er's artistic direction, the International Dance Village was established in Kibbutz Ga'aton. Since then, the village became a magnet for students, outstanding dancers, leading artists, and choreographers from Israel and around the world. Throughout the year, the village hosts projects, international training programs, workshops and unique pathways in dance education and professional dancer training in addition to community cultural activities in northern Israel and among special populations such as at-risk youth, women subjected to domestic violence, development of dance programs in local Arab communities, and more.