A Flamenco Opera that Revives Ancient Canaanite Mythology

Ba'alot is an ancient Canaanite rain god, and through the new show, 'Ba'alot,' by the Israeli Flamenco Company, we connect to him. The show brings the Canaanite spirit to the stage, stemming from the stories of the local goddesses who formed a significant part of the pantheon that heavily inspired the Hebrew Bible. The performance connects the ancient history of the Land of Israel with Flamenco culture, which many of its practitioners view as a religion in itself.

Before becoming a modern artistic genre, Flamenco, originating from Spanish-Romani folklore, was an element of ritual ceremonies that included gatherings in small, crowded spaces, singing and playing music, prayer, and dance. Over the years, Flamenco developed into a language known and understood only by those involved—a kind of secret religion. Each Flamenco rhythm (palos) has its own name, role, and characteristics, which confer upon it the status of a living, independent, and primal entity, linking it to a specific facet of human life.

Similarly, the gods and goddesses from Canaanite mythology personify various aspects of human culture and nature, making them metaphorical entities with eternal significance.

The contemporary hymns written by Assi Meshulam and composed by Talia Yona Kliger are joined by the choreography of Michal Natan, which connects the various Flamenco rhythms to the archetypal meanings of the songs, transforming the project into a meaningful and allegorical creation for our present time.

Saturday evening, January 17, 2026, 21:00, Suzanne Dellal Center

You are invited to watch the video:

(Photo: Ziv Barak)