March 31, 2026
In her one-woman show, Israeli American artist and performer Neta Pulvermacher creatively explores her German-Jewish family history.
“They are not here,
And they are not coming
There is nothing here …
There is nothing here for you
It’s just this room and you and me.
And they are not here …
Go home, go home …
There’s no sense in waiting”
When the last person who remembers is gone, whole worlds disappear forever. Israeli American artist, choreographer and performer Neta Pulvermacher situates her riveting one-woman show, The Archive, inside this perforated post-memory landscape. Exploring her German-Jewish family history, she constructs a jarring, witty and deeply moving performative journey that follows the traces to Frankfurt and to Berlin, once her family’s home.
Inside a room containing a table, three chairs, a reading lamp and an old violin, Pulvermacher sifts through documents, photographs and personal artifacts. She dances, sings, and tells stories, conjuring fragmented narratives, voices and characters that connect briefly, only to fade away into oblivion. In her Archive, she asks us to consider the ephemerality of memory, history and experience.
The Archive premiered at Villa 102/KFW Stiftung in Frankfurt and has since toured to NYC, Florida, Duisburg, Germany, and throughout Israel.
Before the performance, the audience will be invited to explore Pulvermacher’s personal family archive of documents, photographs, letters and artifacts. The performance will be followed by a discussion with the audience.
“This haunting exploration of memory and history continues to resonate with you long after you leave the theater. In these turbulent times, it’s not just a show—it’s a must-see experience.” (Saloona, Nira Peri)
This program is presented by the Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues and cosponsored by The Rhonda ’76 and Ted ’73 Ebert Fund for Judaic Studies, The Milton B. Asbell Center for Jewish Life and the departments of German and theatre & dance.
Neta Pulvermacher was born and raised in Kibbutz Lehavot Habashan in northern Israel. After graduating from Juilliard in 1985, she spent 31 years living and working in New York before returning to Israel in 2013 to become dean of dance at JAMD. Prior to her appointment as dean of JAMD, she was a professor of dance at the University of Florida School of Theater and Dance.
As founder of the Neta Dance Company in New York, Pulvermacher created more than 95 works for her company and for numerous ballet and modern dance companies in the U.S. and Israel. Her company was presented at major NYC venues such as The Joyce Theater, Dance Theater Workshop and the 92nd Street Y and toured extensively nationally and internationally. Her collaborations include work with musicians John Zorn, Anthony Coleman, the English rock band XTC, Miri Ben Ari and David Broza, as well as choreography for Mira Nair’s film The Namesake. Her work has been supported by numerous foundations and fellowships and earned her a White House recognition. Most recently she was awarded the 2024 Arik Einstein prize for sustained choreographic achievements. Her current projects include touring The Archive and a revival of Five Beds/Children of the Dream at the invitation of the Suzanne Dellal Center.
Further information
- Location: Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium
- Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
- Cost: Free