Photo exhibit bridges Israeli dancers and Rodef Shalom
A bridge, two dancers and one Pittsburgh photographer result in 'Dancing without their Timbrels'
An exhibition is offering a bridge to the work of photographer Dale Lazar.
Between Aug. 22-Oct. 30, visitors to Rodef Shalom Congregation can see “Dancing without their Timbrels,” a 15-photo collection featuring two Israeli dancers (a ballet dancer and a modern dancer) on a pedestrian bridge in Netanya, Israel.
Lazar, a Fox Chapel resident, captured the images during a 2023 masterclass arranged by Israeli artist Archie Granot.
Lazar, 76, said that he wasn’t certain what to expect after hearing about the photo opportunity.
He only knew that there would be a couple of dancers and a few other photographers.
After showing up on-site, however, Lazar’s excitement grew.
“When I arrived at the bridge in Netanya, I saw the dancers in their incredible dresses framed by the geometric architecture of the bridge, and experienced a photographic adrenaline rush,” Lazar said. “I was excited to begin photographing the dancers, post-process the images then share my photos.”
Lazar’s images detail the dancers’ movements. But equally important to the photos is the setting. Reservation Bridge, and its “favorable slopes,” passes over Ben Gurion Street in south Netanya. The modern marvel follows the area’s topography and allows visitors to enjoy views of water, trails and urban life.
In designing the bridge, the intention was to “create a structure that relays perpetual motion from different points of views, using a complex system composed of interconnecting spine, vertebrae and ribs, much like a living organism,” according to Mosessco Architecture Team.
Lazar said he was captivated by the overpass and its inherent challenges.
“I’m always cognizant of the background when taking photos,” he said. “The background is just as important as the foreground. I tried to avoid taking photos where bridge elements came out of the dancers’ mouths or heads.”
Capturing the scene required almost four hours of stillness from the photographer and nearly 1,000 clicks of the shutter. Neither was necessarily difficult, Lazar explained.
“The excitement, and the adrenaline rush, and the opportunities all kept me highly energized and motivated,” he said.
Throughout Lazar’s collection, there is a careful regard for color and movement.
“I am very focused on making my photos look real and not overly post-processed,” he said.
Relying on Adobe Lightroom, Lazar edits the images just enough to maintain the “reality of the visual experience.”
There’s another reality embedded within the collection. Lazar took the photos before Oct. 7. He’s now displaying them 10 months into the war.
“Given the current situation in Israel, I was conflicted about publishing joyful photos of Israeli women dancing on a bridge,” he said. The goal, however, is that viewers see the photos as “aspirational.”
“My hope is that someday there will be a lasting peace in the Mideast, where once again people can dance on bridges and streets in Israel,” he said.
Lazar will share more of his thoughts during an opening reception on Aug. 26 at Rodef Shalom. Until then, he’s happy for people to view the collection and scores of other albums on his Flickr site.
“I don’t sell my photos. I shoot to share. I share them by entering competitions as well as sharing them with family and friends all over the world,” he said. “I’m a philanthropic photographer.” PJC
Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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