The big news is the contemporary-dance programming in the Chutzpah Festival's just-announced lineup for February 18 to March 13, 2016.

The multi-discipline festival of Jewish performing arts boasts a North American premiere by Italy’s red-hot Spellbound Contemporary Ballet;  the return of multimedia, club-happy Israeli dance company Maria Kong  with Open Source; and bold New York-based Gallim Dance in Wonderland (by choreographer Andrea Miller). In addition, New York City’s all-male company MADBOOTS debuts at the fest and the event's resident dance company, Shay Kuebler Radical System Art, crafts a world premiere. In addition, in the Chutzpah!PLUS programming outside the regular fest, Ballet Kelowna presents works by its artistic director (and former Ballet BC star) Simone Orlando, James Kudelka, Heather Myers, and John Alleyne, with Toronto’s Continuum Contemporary Music accompanying.

Elsewhere, the festival goes truly global in its music programming. Highlights include Israel’s sister group A-Wa, Mexico City's Klezmerson, Israeli experimentalist Victoria Hanna, Israel/New York jazzers Rotem Sivan Trio, and Odessa/Havana, who connect Jewish and Cuban traditions.

Amid Chutzpah's theatre offerings, look for a world premiere from Israeli-Canadian BC based playwright, performer, and lighting designer Itai Erdal: he's collaborating with Maiko Yamamoto (Theatre Replacement) and Anita Rochon (Chop Theatre) for A Very Narrow Bridge, a chamber place sest to take place in the Jewish Community Centre boardroom. Big local stage names like Patti Allen, Tom Pickett, and Anton Lipovetsky star.

On the comedy front, look for stand-up from New York's Jessica Kirson and The Debaters favourite Jon Steinberg.

And there will be a lot of interest in a Chutzpah!PLUS reading and interview with Jennifer Teege, the bi-racial granddaughter of Nazi commandant Aon Goeth, who was portrayed by Ralph Fiennes in Schindler's List.   She reads from her memoir My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me,  revealing the horrifying moment she discovered her ancestry after being given up for adoption.

Single tickets for Chutzpah are on sale now at $21 to $36 and can be purchased online at chutzpahfestival.com, by phone at the Chutzpah! box office at 604-257-5145 or Tickets Tonight: 604-684-2787. Chutzi Packs are also available, with four different shows of your choice for only $89.

See a full schedule and more information on shows here.