The teens who signed up for drama class were surprised when the day began with a physical warm up. First their arms, then their knees, then moving from side to side and finally in figure 8s. Acting requires your whole body, says teacher Barak, an actor. One of the teens says he’s already tired because he’s just spent two hours running and long-jumping in the field. Still, he’s eager to add the drama class to his day’s schedule at Hadassah Neurim Youth Aliyah Village.
Among the after-school activities offered this year at Hadassah Neurim in addition to drama are surfing, a three-day survival and leadership journey, work at the therapeutic dog kennel, biking and photography.
One of the drama stars is Stella Tregubov, 17, a twelfth grader from Nof Hagalil in the north of Israel. Unhappy scholastically and socially, she moved from her local high school to Hadassah Neurim three years ago.
“The acting classes have definitely improved my self-confidence,” she says. “Where others are afraid of speaking in public, I now feel comfortable and sure of myself. I love the exercises, rehearsals and the performances themselves.”
Living in the dorms and meeting many other students from different backgrounds will help her acclimate to Israel Defense Forces service, Stella believes.
“I came to Hadassah Neurim because I was bereft when my best friend left for a different residential school. Still another friend was at Hadassah Neurim and said she thought it would be a good fit for me. She was right.”
Stella’s parents, who made aliyah from two different former Soviet republics, were supportive of her decision.
After graduating, Stella will spend a year in Mechina Gal, a pre-army preparatory program. She hopes to become a psychologist or perhaps even an actress.