Yoana Esther Blikman

Yoanna Esther Blikman is a performance artist and founder of the Esther Method, a Jewish feminine martial art. A former Kung Fu champion, she trained under Master Chang Xiao Yan, was part of the French national team, and won eight national titles. Blikman studied acting in Paris (Laboratoire de l’Acteur) and Tel Aviv (Yoram Levinstein) before deepening her research in movement and choreography at The Group (Jaffa) and the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. Her work explores the intersection of body, language, and identity through contemporary performance. Over the past decade, she has created and performed in leading art centers and festivals, including Dock 11 (Berlin), Experimentica (Cardiff), Neu Now (Amsterdam), and the Israel Museum. Now based in France, Blikman premiered Noga, a ritualistic performance reflecting transformation and Teshuva. She currently studies Torah under two grant programs (Nishma & Kol-elles). Her guiding question: How can we study Torah through all our limbs? (Tehillim 35:10).