Rivka Shturman was born in 1903, in Warsaw, Poland. Later her family moved to Leiptzig, Germany, where she was raised and where she completed her education. She studied at the Jewish Gymnasium and was a member in the Zionist Youth Movement "Blau Viss".      After her encounter with envoys (Shlichim) from Israel (then Palestine) and especially with Gertrud Kaufman (Gurit Kadman) she moved to Berlin where she met her husband to be, Dr` Menachem Shturman. There she became a central and vital member of the Zionist and pioneer movement and prepared to immigrate to Israel. They got married and immigrated to Israel in 1929.      After wandering from one place to another, they finally settled down in Kfar Ychezkel in the Valley of Izrael, and in 1937 moved to kibbutz Ein Harod where she lived till her death in 2001.      Her two children, Dahlia and Haim, were born in Kfar Ychezkel and Ein Harod. She was a grandmother and then a great grandmother of many offspring’s.      Rivka showed a tendency towards dancing from an early age and while she was in Germany she deliberately took up physical education bearing in mind that it would be essential in Israel, which might be in need of this discipline.      Her talent found its expression for the first time in an authentic Israeli play in their neighboring kibbutz "Geva", where she started composing stage dances to the music of A. Amiran (Pugatchov). Her great drive to give expression to her latent creative power started at the beginning of the forties when the children still sang in German and danced Slavic dances. The hostile world around and the lack of Israeli original dances prompted her to create Israeli dances in the land of Israel.      At the beginning, through the first years, Rivka choreographed dances according to her own original style, yet linked to the traditional movements. They were dances for holidays celebrating nature, like the harvest of the Omer, and Shavuot. They became the corner stone for these holidays, where style and folklore were concerned. Later she developed new ideas and fields of creativity. She choreographed dances for children, for holidays, and for the Dahlia festivals, as a way of education and recreation.      With the coming of the great Yemenite immigration, Rivka appreciated the originality of this community and by learning and observation she immediately adopted its style and made it part of the Israeli dance.      As a citizen of the Emek, she was rooted into her surroundings and happenings around her. She was very excited with the establishment of "Homa and Migdal" settlements, and thus choreographed  the dance " “Kuma Echa", which expresses, in each movement, the idea of work.      When the Independence War broke out and fighting was going on, on The Hills of Gilboa, she expressed the feelings of bereavement and hope in the energetic dance: "Debka Gilboa".      Her creativity increased and she choreographed around 150 dances, which became corner stones and were typical of the aura and excitement at each Israeli gathering in those days. Among them were: "Hei Harmonica" and "Havu Lanu Yain".      During the stressful days of fighting in Jerusalem she was asked by the department of culture in the Palmach to set up a performance with the participation of the soldiers of battalion "Haportzim". She did so and it was an enormous success morally and artistically.      In the fifties Rivka was assigned to be a Zionist envoy in France, where she was also assigned by the Federation of Labor to be the coordinator of the department of folk dances.      Rivka felt that the young dancers missed something and so she turned to new fields and brought in new styles from foreign territories. "Machol Ha’Shnaim" with Nira Chen`s music is one variation of European couple dances.      Rivka diligently indulged in educational and playful dances for kindergarten and elementary school children, and also recorded some of the dances.      When the Independence War ended Rivka choreographed a series of powerful performances to commemorate the tragic events in the history of our people. One was a dance performance at a convention at kibbutz Lochamei Ha’Getaot, another was "Gideon" for the Emek holiday celebration, and Alterman`s 'Magash Ha’Kesef" (The Silver Platter) for the celebrations of the third anniversary of the State of Israel.      Rivka proudly carried the name of Israel all over the world, from Europe to Alaska. Wherever she went she left a tremendous impact because of her originality and Israeli style. Indeed, Israeli folk dances are appreciated in the folk dance circles all over the world.      In her late years she taught mainly old people. She started a dance group with them and they appeared all over the country. But she always continued to pass on the tradition to dance teachers at the Ulpanim. Even when she was quite old she continued to dance and to create.      The book "Kuma Echa" by Rina Sharet, tells Rivka`s history; her life, and the story of her art.      When she stopped creating new dances she still looked for something creative and contributive to do. So she studied complementary medicine and worked at it for many years.      In her last years she was taken care of at the old age home of kibbutz Sde Nachum where she received loving care. Even then she was still quite lovely and energetic.      Rivka died painlessly in her sleep on Wednesday 3.1.2001. May she rest in peace.