Adena Kozak-Blickstein

Adena Kozak began to study dance with lyrical Jazz dancer, Roberta Mathes, at the age of thirteen. She studied classical ballet with Eddie Shellman of the Dance Theater of Harlem and danced in the Joffery Ballet and Tisch NYU summer programs in 2000. In Israel, during her year of Midrasha at Orot, she studied at the School of Classical Ballet under teacher Miriam Kaufman. She has performed with the Mechola dance companies of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv under the directors Yaniv Hoffman and Orit Ventura. In addition to dance, Adena has also been training in voice since high school and has lead several choirs in both Israel and the States.

Adena began her shows “Rotza Liyiot Kochav” as a result of her desire to provide an outlet for religious women to perform for only-women audiences. As a result of having to compromise her religious convictions in order to dance professionally, Adena realized the importance of venues such as these and in addition to her show, has begun a dance company which combines a mixture of Modern and Jazz styles, and which performs only for women. As a result of her shows and similar venues such as these, Adena has enabled many women, who might have otherwise left the performing arts to fulfill their dreams of becoming professional performers.

Annie Orenstein

Annie Orenstein was born in Brooklyn, NY and now lives in Ma'aleh Adumim with her husband and 2 daughters. Growing up, her family instilled in her a love for music and the arts, and began to appreciate and love singing at a young age. She took part in her high school choir and joined an A-Capella group, Kol Shira in college.

Annie heard about Adena's show through a good friend. After seeing so many talented young women take the stage, she too was inspired. She knew that going up would be a challenge, yet she wanted to support this amazing show. Since January 2007, Annie has been arranging the Rotzah Lihiyot Kochav/ Wanna Be A Star competition at the Pargod Theater. She also produced a show for a Sarah Spielman, a finalist from the competition in 2006 to perform in Ma'aleh Adumim. Inspired by all the different talented performers up on stage, she hopes to start composing music of her own.

“I feel that a beautiful voice is a wonderful gift that is Min Hashamayim (from the Heavens). I want to sanctify the act of singing by keeping within the boundaries of Halacha. May we be privileged to lift our voices up and sing praise to Hashem in is Holy Temple soon.”

“Ashira Vazamra La'Hashem” -“I will sing, and I will make a melody to the L-rd” - Tehillim 27:6