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A month after October 7, beloved Israeli singer-songwriter Rita was supposed to return to the stage with a new show entitled “Let’s Dance!”; but times demanded the show be put on hold. Now, it is finally happening - for two dates, September 15 th and November 11 th , at Tel Aviv Port’s Hangar 11. The show is a blend of video art, DJ sets, and renditions of all her greatest hits in new electro arrangements. This past year was a big year for Rita, who received a special award at a ceremony at the Peres Center for Peace, dedicated to inspiring women who demonstrated leadership in the wake of October 7, and an honorary doctorate from Bar Ilan University in recognition of her unique contribution to Israeli art and culture. The trailblazer “Let’s Dance!” is a project entirely inspired by her last album, “Duende”, which she made in collaboration with music producer Eyal Leon Katzav (aka ELK). A special project, the album came out on prestigious red vinyl. “There are 12 songs on “Duende”, sung in 7 different languages. Making it was perhaps one of the most fun, most exciting projects I’ve ever undertaken. It’s an album that’s full of joy. It just makes you want to start dancing”, she says. “It took us about two years to figure out how to translate the Duende project into a live show”, she explains excitedly. “We gave the songs an electro feel, but the show also contains Spanish, Andalusian, and Gypsy-style sounds. At the project’s helm are Rita’s ex-husband singer and producer Rami Kleinstein, and producer Assi Tal. “The show was initially set to launch in November 2023, but after October 7, I decided there was no

Photo: Shlomi Pinto

way to even pronounce the words “Let’s dance”. For months, I traveled the country, singing at funerals, in hospitals for wounded soldiers, and for those that had been displaced from their homes”, she recalls. Dancing away the fear “I experienced countless moments of deep connection with people who were in the midst of the most excruciating grief and pain, and I’m launching my new show with all of those people in my heart. My will is that together with the audience, we manage to dance away the fear and the pain. The show is a celebration - a big party”, she says. Even the “usual” shows aren’t usual anymore “Everything’s different now. Music shows have become a place people come to, to reinforce their sense of hope and strength. I feel as though each audience member lays their heart in my hands for the duration of a show, and it’s my job to strengthen and console it”, she says. Rita and Kleinstein have already produced two successful shows together. For her, it’s clear they’ll

Our quick questionnaire What makes you angry ? “The division in our society”. What makes you laugh? “Silly jokes”.

What don’t we know about you ? “That I make the best pesto sauce”. What do you like doing in your spare time? “Spending time with family”. What would you be doing, had you not become a singer? “I can’t even imagine being anything else”.

continue to work together, even envisaging the idea of creating a mega family show together with their talented singer daughters, Meshi and Noam. Will there be a show involving all four of you in the future? “I hope so. I hope we get to do something with the girls. But I think it’s great that each one of them is also on her own path. I’m so impressed by them, each one carving out her own career for herself. We’ll definitely be coming together for a joint project later on down the line”, she says. ˆ

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ATMOSPHERE SEPTEMBER 2025