Israel's Eurovision hope Netta wraps up first rehearsal

Israeli singer Netta Barzilai was born on the 22nd of January, 1993. This February, she won the fifth season of HaKokhav HaBa L'Eurovizion, or The Next Star for Eurovision, and with that the ticket to represent Israel in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon. Her song TOY was later chosen by a committee of Israel's public broadcaster KAN. 

Netta is known for her use of the looper, a unique sound recorder which adds a special dimension to her performances.

READ MORE: Netta's profile

During her rehearsal, Netta was wearing a kimono-style outfit in white, red and pink with a black corset and platform boots, as she approached her looper in the centre of the stage. The looper is divided in three pieces, featuring the letters T-O-Y as she touches it.

Netta is joined by her backing singers and dancers from the bridge behind her, as they make their trademark chicken moves. Accompanying Netta on stage are also two blocks of shelves filled with so-called maneki-nekos, the popular Asian beckoning cats often used as lucky charms.

Netta, who is tipped as one of the hot favourites to win this year's contest by fans, press and bookmakers, seemed undistracted from her task to repeatedly give a steady performance.

Israel takes part in the first Semi-Final of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest on the 8th of May.