Rivka Sturman (Hebrew: רבקה שטורמן; 17 January 1903 – 2001) was an influential Israeli choreographer known for creating approximately 150 new folk dances. Born as Rivka Weinwurzel in Warsaw, she later moved to Leipzig, Germany, where she completed her education and met her future husband, Menahem Sturman. In 1929, the couple emigrated to Mandatory Palestine and settled in the kibbutz of Kfar Yehezkel, where Rivka Sturman began choreographing dance pieces. She continued to study and refine her craft, drawing inspiration from various cultural influences, including Arabic dance and music.Sturman's interest in creating new folk dances was sparked in 1942, leading her to choreograph her first dance, Ha-Goren, which was performed at Geva's high school graduation. She collaborated with various advisors and artists, including Paula Padani, Gurit Kadman, and Chaim Atar, in developing her dances. Sturman's work was heavily influenced by her desire to create new Jewish folk dances and her advocacy for children to have access to dance education. She drew inspiration from local Arab communities, stories from the Hebrew Bible, and diverse dance traditions such as Bedouin, Yemenite, and hasidic dances.Throughout her career, Sturman's choreography continued to evolve, incorporating different