18 Facts About Hassia Levy-Agron

Hassia Levy-Agron was an Israeli dancer, choreographer, and educator.

Hassia Levy-Agron began dancing in 1928, attending a kindergarten with rhythmic classes run by Levin Kipnis.

Hassia Levy-Agron then joined the Lemel school, where she received instruction from dancers based in Tel Aviv; these instructors "were certain that [she] was born to dance".

However, at the time most dance teachers were immigrants who worked in Tel Aviv, and her Lemel teachers soon stopped commuting; Hassia Levy-Agron studied under other instructors, all of whom encouraged her, until one helped her go to Tel Aviv to study under Gertrud Kraus.

Hassia Levy-Agron's parents were not so encouraging of dance, but she continued.

Hassia Levy-Agron began giving solo shows, and crafting nights of cultural recital involving dance, drama, and music.

Hassia Levy-Agron then traveled to New York to study under Martha Graham, but returned to Israel in 1948 during the war in Palestine.

Hassia Levy-Agron was the first Israeli-born dancer to train in the United States, doing so under Graham and at the Juilliard School.

In 1948, Hassia Levy-Agron began performing for the Israeli troops to boost morale.

In 1951, Hassia Levy-Agron started the dance program of the Jerusalem Conservatory of Music, following this in 1965 by founding the dance department of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance.

Hassia Levy-Agron believed that incorporating dance in education would guide a person's spirit, establishing many youth dance troupes in Israel to spread the practice.

Hassia Levy-Agron choreographed for the young dancers as well as teaching them skills and techniques, with her distinct choreography style based on Biblical narratives and everyday Israeli life.

Hassia Levy-Agron was a prominent figure in organizations and societies, with her personality and public appearances said to have helped promote dance in Israel.

Between 1962 and 1967, Hassia Levy-Agron directed the Jerusalem Contemporary Dance Company, composed of academy graduates, which performed around the world.

In 1978, Hassia Levy-Agron was promoted to professor at the academy, and developed a high school matriculation pathway based around dance, which became officially accredited seven years later.

Hassia Levy-Agron then founded the Springboard Company in 1993, a program to help Academy graduates prepare for professional performance careers.

Hassia Levy-Agron was married to Dani Agron, son of Gershon Agron, part of the Haganah, weapons smuggler for the Israel Defense Forces during the Israel-Palestine war, and co-founder of Israel Aerospace Industries with Shimon Peres.

Hassia Levy-Agron died peacefully in the afternoon on 22 August 2001.