Rob Malerman, 32, had a dream. He had been carrying it around for several years before it was finally realized. His dream was to form an Israel folk dancing troupe. In January, his dream became a reality with the formation of the Café Israel Dancers, who will make their debut Saturday night in a Passover celebration at the Blushing Zebra coffeehouse, 7167 Germantown ave., Mt Airy. Also featured will be the Philadelphia Klezmorim, along with the storyteller Milt Cohen, dancer Audrey Bookspan and singer Maia Brumberg.

Malerman got his first taste of dance as a youngster growing up in Mt Airy, where his parents were prominent square dance callers. As a teen member of a Jewish youth group, he learned a few Isreali folk dances and fell in love with the dance form.

His attachment to Israeli folk dancing was fueled by time spent in California as Western sales manager for Sorbee International, a dietetic candy company. In his free time he haunted various clubs featuring Israeli folk dancing nightly. Now he’s back East, where he works as a quality assurance specialist and in-house consultant at Sorbees’ Northeast Philadelphia plant.

“It’s incredible the involvement on the West Coast. You can find a place where there’s Israeli folk dancing every night of the week. At least 50 or 60 come out on weeknights and over 200 on Sundays. There’s Café Shalom in Los Angeles and Café Danssa, which has been a folk dancing hot spot for almost 20 years. It’s exactly where I wanted to spend my free time. You form fast friendships; it’s a wonderfully sociable, upbeat environment.

“I was so excited, so energized by this concept on the West Coast that I wanted to recreate it here. It’s been a dream of mine to bring Israeli folk dancing to every Philadelphia Jewish community, to youth groups, to synagogues and to camps,” said Malerman from the JCC Klein Branch in the Northeast where the troupe rehearses every Sunday sfternoon. Several of the troupe members stay throughout the evening as Room 218 at the branch is transformed into Café Israel, a meeting place for those interested in learning Israeli folk dances. According to Malerman, Café Israel, which opened last November, attracts about 60 every Sunday from 7 to 11PM. “It’s a safe place where mothers can feel safe to leave their teenagers for an evening – there are no drugs or alcohol,” says Malerman.

Some just come to observe and to listen to music; others are more involved and want to learn the steps and practice them to music. I bring my own tapes and records and my own stereo equipment,” said Malerman, who takes the Café Israel participants through the paces with assistance from his troupe, of which several members are volunteer teachers including Sybil Gilmar, 52 and Hannah Gilad, 43.

By day, Gilmar, a single parent, is assistant principal of Harriton High School in Bryn Mawr. “My childhood fantasy was to become a ballerina,” said the New York native who also teaches at the Wednesday night folk dancing sessions at the JCC Gershman Branch YM-YWHA, Broad and Pine Streets.

In addition, she teaches international folk dancing to a troupe of Girl Scouts, as well as an elderly group at the Workmen’s circle home in Media. “The older folks love to move to music; they are very responsive,” said Gilmar, who plans to go to Israel next year on Sabbatical. I think folk dancing is much more ingrained in Israeli life than American Life

Ed Note: This is as far as we have of this article presently. If we ever find the rest of the article, we will reproduce it at this point of this script

Dance Israeli style - Café Israel Huge Success

Café’ Israel, Philadelphia’s newest place to dance Israeli style is posting record attendance as this unique new concept takes hold. The Café held its grand opening on Nov 1st, 1987 at the Klein Branch of The Jewish Community Center in Northeast Philadelphia and is held every Sunday from 7:30 to 11:pm. Withon the first few weeks of the grand opening, attendance grew from the initial core group to its present 70 to 85 attendants every Sunday.

We visited Café Israel and found a truly unique experience indeed! As we walked in the door, it was clear that we were in for something completely different. The lights at the café are low and there are candles on the table. This is the perfect place to bring a non-dancing friend, as the atmosphere is friendly and warm. Complimentary coffee, tea and coffee cake was served and there were games on the table should you care to play one. It was almost as fun to watch and meet new friends as it was to dance. Newspapers and magazines were available, but they were all in Hebrew so we don’t know what they were about.

The dancing is incredible. Rob Malerman created the concept and is the driving force behind the café. During the evening Rob spins the records, We danced till our feet hurt. One of the nicest things about Café Israel is the program. At most dances we have attended, the programmers put on whatever they want and we end up dancing about ¼ of the time and sitting out the dances we don’t know. Rob seemed to play all of our favorites. He runs an all request format and the dances come one after another. Rob said: "I play as many requests as I can so everyone can do their favorite dances. After all, what fun is it to sit around?"

The sound system at the Café is the best we’ve ever seen at a folk dance. Apparently, Rob uses only the finest Stereo equipment available. He said: "I started out using my home stereo/ When you play these records on your home system, you can hear things you never knew existed in the music. It is beautiful.! I wanted the full beauty of the music to dance to, not the garbled and distorted versions and bad recordings so frequently used. I started with the sound system and branched out into the recordings. If you look hard enough, you can find the original recordings. I use these whenever possible at the Café."

We asked Rob: "What’s next for you?" He told us about the newly formed café Israel Dancers, an 18 member performing demonstration troupe he started 4 weeks ago. He said: We have put together 4 dances in as many weeks and already have a full performance schedule.” It seems that Rob likes to do everything differently and the Dancers are no exception. Not only do these 6 men and 12 women perform beautiful choreographies, but they also have a staff of 5 Israeli and 1 International dance teachers that are available to teach in the community during, after and independently of the performances.

We asked Rob what’s next for the dance world and he replied: "Oh, I don’t know, I”ll think of something." But the twinkle in his eyes tells us that he’s already working on the next project. We can’t wait to see what it is!

Used to be, Wednesday nights at the Jewish Community Center’s Gershman YM-YWHA Branch, Broad and Pine Sts, in center city Phila, was the place. And, if 60 people showed up, it was a good night. These days, aficionados of Israeli folk dancing can dance 4 nights a week at five different locations throughout the city and suburbs. And, on a good night, two of these locations will attract 100-plus dancers

“It’s a good way to be involved with the Jewish community, do aerobic dancing – which happens to be Israeli dancing –and meet people,” said Carol Kahn, program director at the Gershman Y, still one of the mainstays of the local Israeli dance scene.

According to Ed Frim, who has been dancing regularly in Philadelphia for the past 10 years, “what kept Israeli dancing going in Philadelphia for the past seven years was this group of volunteers that kept it (the folk dance program) running at the Gershman Y. This relatively small group of eight to ten people very devotedly and harmoniously did all the work to keep everything going – programming, teaching, collecting the money, maintaining the mailing list.

“Everyone has his or her job. It was a labor of love for them,” added Frim, director of special projects at the Central Agency for Jewish Education and a member of the Israeli Folk Dance Committee at the Gershman Y for the past three years.

Israeli folk dancing in Philadelphia actually didn’t start out at the Gershman Y. In 1947, the Penn Hillel Palestianian Dance Group was formed on the campus of the University Of Pennsylvania. The following year, when the State of Israel was established, the group changed its name to Penn Israeli dance group.The group has been meeting Wednesday nights to dance ever since, having relocated to the Gershman Y in 1985.

While Frim is glad Israeli Folk dancing has blossomed in Philadelphia, he still prefers dancing at the Gershman Y. “Downtown offers more of a standard repertoire,” he explained. “Not only are we interested in doing the disco or latest Israeli dances, but we do the old dances as well.”

According to Frim, The Gershman Y also is an ideal place to learn dances. A beginner’s class, taught by Sherry Milner, is held Wednesday, 6:30 to 7PM; an advanced beginners/intermediate class, also taught by Milner, 7 to 7:45pm; and an immediate/advanced class, taught by various members of the committee, 7:45 to 8:30 PM, followed by open request dancing to 10:45PM.

“A lot of my dancing is teaching related,” said Milner, who also conducts Israeli folk dance workshops for synagogues, Hebrew schools, and other organizations. Having been involved with Israeli folk dancing for the past seven years, Milner also has many years of experience in International folk dancing “which has a smattering of Israeli in it” she explained. In fact, that’s how she got into Israeli folk dancing. “I got hooked very quickly,” Milner said. “The Jewish aspect hit home like no other nationality would,” she added. “Also, the variety makes it appealing.

Israeli Folk Dancing is the only nationality that has an international flavor; it’s the only one that was not allowed to evolve naturally. Because of the Diaspora, it got dispersed,” Milner explained. “When people came back(to the land of Israel), they brought the flavor of where they had come with them. Then, at statehood, it was created as Israeli folk dance.”

While Milner teaches all levels of Israeli folk dance, she said there is a certain draw to teaching beginners. “I got turned on seeing people turned on to Israeli dance,” she said. “Exposing them to it and helping them see how terrific and exciting it can be, that charges me up.”

Hannah Weil, who teaches Israeli Folk dance Tuesdays 7 to 10PM, at Gratz College on the Mandell Education Campus in Melrose Park, said she dances because, “it’s exciting, good exercise and a good social activity.”

Weil, who has been dancing steadily for 23 years, mostly in Israel, where she lived for 24 years, said she teaches Israeli folk dance “because it’s part of our heritage. I believe in perpetuating the real cultural heritage of Israel.”

She added that she tries to teach a mixture of dances and doesn’t classify a dance as an Israeli folk dance unless it’s been danced for at least 30 years. “The problem is, Israel is such a young country,” she reflected.

Much of the Israeli dancing done in Philadelphia Weil calls Israeli dance, rather than folk dance. “Israeli dances are more choreographed, and the music is more modern,” she explained, “whereas folk dancing consists of one or two steps repeated over and over.”

Danny Uziel, an Israeli-born9 choreographer/teacher who now lives in New York City, where he designs jewelry, pointed out that today, Israeli dancing has caught on all over the world. Folk dance groups in Europe, China, Japan and even the Soviet Union have included Israeli dance in their repertoires, he told the Jewish Times while visiting Philadelphia earlier this month to teach at a Yom Ha’atzmaut dance party on Boathouse row.

Uziel, who has been choreographing and teaching the past 40 years, has noticed a big difference between the 60’s and 90’s in terms of Israeli folk dance participation. In the 90’s, he said, dancing has become more of a social activity both in the US and Israel. “There are more dancers, more choreographers – which has created a happy environment,” he said. “But, the bottom line is, it’s beautiful.”

His advice to the novice:”Every beginning is hard, but once you know it, you enjoy it. It’s like learning a language. The more you dance, the better you are. Learn the movement and the steps then forget about them and enjoy.”

Sharon Polsky, of Northeast Philadelphia, said Uziel “smiles the whole time (he’s dancing).” Polsky, who has been dancing the past 14 years, is one of the committee members who has kept Israeli folk dancing going at the Gershman Y. “The committee worked great because we were all friends,” she explained. Uziel agreed that the Israeli folk dancing group in Philadelphia is more cohesive than those in other cities.

“Most of my friends are from dancing,” Polsky remarked, adding that she’s met people from all across the country and all over the world by attending weekend Israeli folk dance workshops. “I can go anywhere in the US, England or Paris and know somebody and fit right in,” she said. “And dancing provides me with a real connection to Israel.”

Israeli dancing provided Steve and Janet Schwartz with a different type of connection: That’s how the couple met, no less than three times. Steve Schwartz said he doesn’t remember the first time. The second time, they dated for a while and then stopped until the third time they met dancing.

That was 10 years ago. Married now for three and a half years, they are the proud parents of 3 month old Rachel, who already is being introduced to Israeli dancing.

Steve Schwartz, a certified public accountant and computer consultant – he maintained the mailing list while a member of the Israeli Folk Dancing committee at the Gershman Y – started dancing 13 years ago while a volunteer with the American Zionist Youth Foundation’s Sherut La’em (service to the people) program in Dimona, a development town in the Negev.

“There’s not a whole lot to do there except folk dance,” he explained. Schwartz’ first teacher was Moti Alfassi, now a well known choreographer. When Schwartz returned to the University of Pennsylvania as a graduate student, he discovered that he knew more dances than the people who had been dancing at Penn Hillel for years.

“Dancing is a good Jewish activity,“ he said. It used to be a good singles event. And now that I’m married, since my wife’s a dancer, we enjoy dancing together. It reminds me of the good times I had in Israel.”

Beginning June 10, Schwartz, who feels that there’s room in Philadelphia for more variety on the Israeli dance scene, will teach a beginner’s class at the JCCs’ Kaiserman Branch, City line Ave and Haverford, Mondays 7 to 8PM, followed by open dancing until 10PM. He’s calling it “classic Israeli folk dancing – the oldies and goodies.”

Rob Malerman felt the Philadelphia Israeli folk dance community needed something new when he started Café Israel three years ago at the JCCs’ Klein Branch, Red Lion Rd and Jamison Ave, in the Northeast. “I wanted to bring a little piece of California and Israel here to Philadelphia,” said Malerman, director of manufacturing for Sorbee, which makes sugar free candy.

At Café Israel, the lights are low, the room air-conditioned and the sound system excellent. Coffee and refreshments are served. All in all, it’s a “café like atmosphere and a real social environment,” he noted.

Malerman got an early start in folk dancing; his parents were among Philadelphia’s biggest square dance callers, and his Mother taught International Folk dancing while pregnant with him. He said he has memories of travelling from camp to camp with his parents.

As he grew up, Malerman took off on his own, becoming a song leader and an ad-hoc Israeli dance instructor with eastern PAFTY (Pennsylvania federation of Temple Youth). He danced extensively on the East Coast before going out to California five years ago and dancing at Café Danse in Los Angeles with Israeli dance choreographer Dani Dassa. “Café Israel is as close to California as we can make it, “ said Malerman. “The only thing we don’t have is Dani Dassa.

Beginning June 2nd, Malerman will teach a beginner’s class, 7 to 8PM. The class is a joint project with the Klein branch and B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO). It (BBYO) has kids, and kids and Israeli dancing go together.” Malerman remarked. Regarding beginning dancing, he said, “You have to train your feet to do what your brain is telling them to do.” From 8 to 8:30 PM, Reena Keren wil continue to teach the repertoire class Sundays at café Israel, followed by open request dancing.

“We do top 40 Israeli programming,” Malerman said, “as close as we can get. And, we do a lot of requests. Generally, what people want to hear are the most popular dances. And, we pay a lot of attention to what people want to hear.”

For Rob Markowitz, who’s been dancing for the past 16 years – ever since he was “forced” to take a beginners class as a member of a Zionist youth group – programming is the thing.

I enjoy having influence, putting on what people want to hear,” he said. Markowitz programs Sunday nights at Café Israel in the Northeast and Wednesday nights at the Gershman Y in center city. He also dances Tuesday nights at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio, 2417 Welsh Road, in the Northeast where Gabi Gabay teaches an advanced class beginning at 9:00 PM.

What keeps Markowitz dancing, he said, is the activity and interaction with people. He added, “Dancing is very addictive. It’s also a good singles scene, because it’s not billed as one. A lot of friendships are built around Israeli dancing.”

For those who want to try dancing, Markowitz said, “the key is to stick with it. You are going to make a fool of yourself for a while. Then one day, all the steps will fall into place, and you’ll feel fabulous.”

Within this article is the mention of the wedding of Janet and Steve Schwartz. Janet has been nice enough to provide a photograph of the wedding indicated below, and this picture apparently is of the couple dancing. This took place sometime in 1987 and Janet looks as lovely today as she does in the picture below.

Want to learn to do Israeli dancing? Were you looking for a way to get that driend of yours involved in dancing, but just couldn't find a night that catered to new dancers? Cafe Israel is opening up another great night designed specifically for first time dancers!

New dancers should hold Tuesday nights for Beginners and Classics Night at cafe Israel! Every Tuesday night the cafe israel staff will be teaching the classic dances that we have all learned to love over the years. The old favorites like Ma Na Vu, Mayim, Tsadik Katamar, and Al Tira. The more recent classics like Shabbat Menucha, Keshenavo, Dror Yikra and Mocher Prochim. The easier new dances like Rona and Izevel and the popular dancers of of the past 40 years presented in a way so that even rank beginners can have a great time for the entire evening!

But the evening is not for beginners only! How many times have you throught that you must have forgotten more dances than you know how? How many beautiful and romantic dances have been lost? How many of the estimated 4000 Israeli dances have you forgotten over the years?

Well, Tuesdays will be your chance to brush up on the Golden Oldies of the past 40 years and enjoy a refreshing new night of great programming in a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.

Beginner lessons will begin at 7:15 and run till 9:30 with request dancing from 9:30 till you decide to stop dancing. The program begins on October 26 at 7:30 and continues week to week.

Come by yourself, come with a friend, come with a crowd, but be sure you come to Tuesday beginners and Classic Dance night at Cafe Israel! Sponsored by and held at the Klein Branch JCC, Red Lion and Jamison Ave. in the Northeast section of the city. Admission $5 at the door.

I started dancing before I was born. Really! Dad was a square dance caller. On breaks, Mom, while pregnant with me, and Dad would demonstrate folk dancing.

At age 13, I discovered Israeli folk dancing at my synagogue youth group meeting. I still remember the first dance I learned in 1969, Al Tira. I have been dancing ever since. Through my youth group days, I grew from participant to organizer and became the song and dance leader.

Dancing has always had a spiritual component for me, with a strong connection to the melodic ruach (spirit) of Israel and my roots of Judiasm.

When the rabbi of our synagogue, Temple Beth Am, went on vacation, my family took over. We packed the place for our famous “Malerman Family Singing Services” as we led the congregation in song and dance around a shabbos theme. We danced to Zemer Atik as we all paraded the Torah around the temple.

In the late 70’s, I became instrumental in organizing the local Israeli dance session, then at the University Of Pennsylvania Hillel and now at the Gershman JCC, I was on the steering committee, a teacher and disc jockey.

Business travelling led me to take part in dancing throughout the country, and in 1987, I organized what is now Philadelphia’s largest Israeli dance session, Café Israel (Sundays at the Klein JCC, Northeast Philadelphia) and a web site www.edancing.com. I still run Café Israel, where I teach and dance weekly

Robert Malerman

Israeli dancing has made a significant difference in my life. About 10 years ago I moved to Philadelphia from Phoenix, in large part to be a participant in an active Jewish community. After trying a number of activities and volunteer organizations, I discovered Israeli dancing. It immediately captivated me, and I was inspired to learn, even though I initially had two left feet.

Israeli dancing allowed me to be in an environment where Israeli and Americans mixed. My involvement exposed me to the music of Israel (both classics and modern). It gave me the opportunity to go to any city with a significant Jewish population and instantly “belong” to a group. Travelling to Israel became an even greater pleasure because I could dance every night wherever I went.

Today, Israeli dancing is very alive. New dances to new music are constantly being choreographed so the learning is continuous. The music is varied and wonderful. The dances not only use the basic Israeli dance steps such as Mayim and Debka, but also you can see music and dance influences from around the globe – cha cha, salsa and meringue, waltz, tango. All have their place among the Israeli dance repertoire.

I continue to enjoy Israeli dancing because of the friends that I have made, because the music touches me and because it’s good exercise. And I enjoy being part of a community sharing a common heritage and interest.

After years of being a student, I am now one of the local dance leaders. There are seven dance sessions in the Philadelphia area and I lead three of them. My personal favorite for people new to dancing is the outdoor session at the Philadelphia Museum Of Art’s east terrace on Thursday nights during the summer. Beginner lessons are offered at 7:30 and dancing continues until 8:30 PM

Don Schillinger

It's a little bit of this and a little bit of that - cha-cha, salsa, merengue, waltz, mambo and even the hustle and the Electric Slide. Israeli dancing is not just whirling in a circle anymore. The dancing and its music have evolved to include influences from all over the world, even country-a nd-western, with its signature line dancing.

"More than a hundred new dances are created every year," said Don Schillinger, who teaches at Temple Beth Hillel Beth El in Wynnewood and Congregation Beth El in Cherry Hill. "It's drawing young people, because the music is more modern. People of all ages continue to be interested in it, and you don't see that with other folk forms."

At a recent class at Beth Hillel, the mix of people was a testament to the popularity of Israeli dancing. Boys in baseball caps held hands with women in long skirts and men in jeans and sneakers as they formed a large circle.

The three-hour session at Beth Hillel includes basic instruction followed by open dancing, where the more experienced get to show their stuff.

Israeli dancing evolved from Eastern Europeans who settled the new country of Israel in the late 1940s and '50s, bringing with them their differing music and dances. "Those who settled in Israel used the dancing as a way of bringing people together," Schillinger said. "All sects and all beliefs could participate."

In Philadelphia, Israeli dancing has its roots in the Penn Hillel at the University of Pennsylvania. Sharon Polsky, who has danced and taught for 22 years, said that it used to be called Palestinian dancing. "But in 1949, it became Israeli dancing," Polsky said.

Polsky teaches at Main Line Reform Congregation in Wynnewood and at Congregation Beth Sholom in Elkins Park.

After Penn Hillel, classes moved to the Gershman Y in Center City, but as the area changed and parking became more difficult, attendance fell off. "But some of us who loved Israeli dancing just wouldn't give up," Polsky said. The next move was to the Kaiserman branch of the center in Wynnewood, where classes were held for a couple of years. Then, in October, Polsky took her group to Main Line Reform Temple. "We were being replaced by aerobics classes," she said.

The Main Line Reform class is small, she said, perhaps 10 to 15 people, but it is starting to catch on. Those who do come are enthusiastic.

At Beth Hillel, the numbers are growing every week. By the middle of the session, three circles had to be formed to accommodate everyone.

Schillinger, 38, who said he is self-taught in the form, was born in Israel but grew up in Buffalo, N.Y. He moved to the Philadelphia area about 10 years ago.

At Beth Hillel, he stood in the middle of the circle and started the beginners with a dance called the Nigun Atik, a very slow number popular at weddings and bar or bat mitzvahs. Rick Koven of King of Prussia, a tall, slender man with graying hair, raised his arms and stretched them out from his sides as he moved slowly, eyes closed, listening to Schillinger's instructions. "I find Israeli music to be a spiritual experience," he said. "When you're moving to it, the music transcends you."

Not so for Max Finder, 12, and his buddy, Michael Alloy, 11, both of Wynnewood. "I don't like the slow stuff," Max said. "And I don't like the line dancing or the partner dances. I just like the fast ones." "I like it when it gets really fast, like break dancing," Michael said.

Laurie Grass of Merion Station was instrumental in bringing Schillinger's class to Beth Hillel. Last year, for her son's bar mitzvah, she learned a few Israeli dances. "I became addicted to it," Grass said. "So I put my nagging skills to good use with Rabbi Cooper [head of Beth Hillel] to get him to allow us to come here, because I knew it would be great for the community, both spiritually and for fun and friendship."

At Beth Hillel, the dancing goes on without intermission. Each session costs $7, and discounts are available.

As the tempo of the music changed, people moved in and out of the circles. A man who had just entered the auditorium at the synagogue paused to stretch his legs before joining the group.

Beth Ladenheim of Wynnewood moved gracefully, arms outstretched. Seven months pregnant, she said that this baby would learn to dance, as did her son and daughter, whom she had brought along with her.

"The dances usually reflect a passage from the Torah or a prayer," Ladenheim said. "There are thousands of Israeli dances - Russian, Arabic, Spanish - so many influences. Even belly dancing," she said, patting her stomach.

Israeli dancing has been an institution in the Greater Philadelphia area since the mid 40's, when it was called "palestinian" Folk Dancing at the University of Pesnnsylvania. In 1948, it became "Israeli" Folk Dancing.

Israeli Dancing has been a happy institution at Beth Sholom Congregation for many years as well, drawing its participants from both congregants and other community members. Florence Schwartz, a Beth Sholom member and longtime Israeli dancer, who had the great fortune to be taught by Fred Berk at New York's 92nd Street Y in the late 50's, coordinates the group. Fred Burke, who is known as the "father of Israeli dancing in America" was the major force in teaching and growing Israeli dance across the country.

The class is taught by Sharon Polsky, herself a veteran Israeli folk dancer and teacher of 25+ years in Philadelphia and other locations around the country and the world. The members of the class come from varied backgrounds and countries, but share a love of Israel that is expressed through Israeli dancing. The group is a mixture of levels, from beginner through intermediate dancers, but everyone dances and everyone laughs and has a good time.

This year the Carmiel dance festival in Israel, which usually takes place in mid-July, had as its theme "Dancing around the world." Dance classes from outside Israel were asked to send a short video to be played on hige screens at the open dance sessions, giving greetings to the thousands of dancers at the festival. The Beth Sholom dancers, pictured here with their dance T-shirts, created a small video for display. We were the only dance session in Philadelphia to do so. Due to the war with the Hezbollah and the rockets landing around Carmiel, the Dance festival has been postponed until Sukkot.

As a note of additional interest: Our Israeli dance group joined the International Israeli dance community in contributing funds for the Markidim (dance leaders) in the north of Israel, many of whom depend on their dance sessions for a living and who were closed during the war.

As Printed

Have you ever wondered why you can hear music wafting through various places in the building on Sunday mornings? Israeli dancing takes place in the Marcus auditorium most weeks, and occasionally in the canteen room to accommodate other GJC activities.

Germantown Jewish Centre has hosted the Sunday morning Israeli dance group since 1997, It was originally organized by Tamar Magdovitz, who continues to coordinate the group. Grant Shulman has been teaching and leading the dances since 2003.

Grant teaches second grade in Philadelphia. He learned Israeli dance while a student at Cornell. At first, he brought that experience to the Sunday session but quickly blossomed as one of the premiere Israeli dance instructors in the Philadelphia area. This can be witnessed in GJC's growing attendance. It was not unusual to be in single digits as far as attendees were concerned even 5 years ago. Today, the normal attendance on Sunday mornings easily reaches in the twenties. It is an amazing sight to see beginner, intermediate and advanced dancers all folk-dancing together and helping each other. And the music is not just Israeli. Tunes from many countries fill the air most Sunday mornings.

Many dancers come from other parts of the Delaware Valley, and for many this is where they get acquainted with GJC. Marc Rauer, who attends up to five Israeli dance sessions a week when not teaching at the Community College of Philadelphia or computer consulting, noted, “It’s the friendliest of the Israeli dance groups that I’ve seen in this area,” he said. “Everyone was very welcoming from the first day I attended in 2003 and, I might add, the whole facility of the Germantown Jewish Centre acts this way, top to bottom. Grant and Tamar are great at what they do,” he added.

Marc’s comments are echoed by other dancers. John Frank, a GJC member, also dances at several Israeli dance and International folk dancing sessions during the week and is on the faculty of the Psychoanalytic Center Of Philasdelphia. He added, “Grant’s teaching style is non-threatening for those who are new to Israeli dance. His patience and his practice of continual reinforcement of steps is great for any beginning student. And, there are more than enough good dancers in the circle to follow when Grant is out of view.”

Until the 1970s or so, most Israeli dances had a feel of international folk dance. The 70s saw the creation of the Israeli music industry. In the Sunday class in the Marcus auditorium, it’s not unusual to have a traditional folk dance, a hip-hop number, a variation on a Waltz and a type of disco beat play in succession. The choreographers create new “phrases” of steps to account for this diversity, and YouTube versions are available for online review of most Israeli dances.

As Submitted

Have you ever wondered why you can hear music wafting through various places in the building on Sunday mornings? Israeli dancing takes place in the Marcus auditorium most weeks, and occasionally moves to different spots to accommodate other GJC activities.

Germantown Jewish Centre has hosted the Sunday morning Israeli dance group since 1997, originally organized by Tamar Magdovitz, who continues to coordinate the group. Grant Shulman has been teaching and leading the dances since 2003.

Grant teaches second grade in Philadelphia. He learned Israeli dance while a student at Cornell. At first, he brought that experience to the Sunday session but quickly blossomed as one of the premiere Israeli dance instructors in the Philadelphia area, and this is shown in growing attendance. It was not unusual to be in single digits as far as attendees were concerned even 5 years ago. Today, the normal attendance on Sunday mornings reaches in the twenties. It is an amazing sight to see beginner, intermediate and advanced, all folk-dancing together. And the music is not just Israeli. Tunes from many countries fill the air most Sunday mornings.

Many dancers come from all parts of the Delaware Valley, where they get their first acquaintance with GJC. Marc Rauer, who attends up to five Israeli dance sessions a week when not teaching at the Community College of Philadelphia or computer consulting, noted, “It’s the friendliest of the Israeli dance groups that I’ve seen in this area,” he said. “Everyone was very welcoming from the first day I attended in 2003 and, I might add, the whole facility of the Germantown Jewish Centre acts this way, top to bottom. Grant and Tamar are great at what they do,” he added.

Marc’s comments are echoed by other dancers. John Frank, a GJC member, also dances at several Israeli dance and International folk dancing sessions during the week and is a psychiatrist associated with the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He added, “Grant’s teaching style is non-threatening for those who are new to Israeli dance. His patience and his practice of continual reinforcement of steps is great for any beginning student. And, there are more than enough good dancers in the circle to follow when Grant is out of view.”

Until the 1970s or so, most Israeli dances had a feel of international folk dance. The 70s saw the creation of the Israeli music industry. In the Sunday class in the Marcus auditorium, it’s not unusual to have a traditional folk dance, a hip-hop number, a variation of Waltz and a type of disco beat play in succession. The choreographers create new “phrases” of steps to account for this diversity, and YouTube versions are available for online review of most Israeli dances.

Come by to see us. And please join us if you are in search of a fun way to exercise, in a low-stress, non-threatening dance class, where you can interact with a very friendly group of people. As a bonus, GJC member Nina Gordon, a well-known potter, created ceramic mugs specifically for the GJC dancers, so they can sip their water between dances in a typical GJC eco-friendly manner.

The Germantown Jewish Centre Israeli dance class meets most Sunday mornings from 10AM to 12:30 AM. In the summer, the session switches to the nighttime, generally Wednesday 7 to 9PM. The cost is $5.

As First Created

The ambience of pastels and browns were a relief from the cold weather that has affected this area. The multicolored balloons attached to water pitchers added to the festivities. The music was as hypnotic as ever. Are we describing a cruise of some kind? No, this is a description of a Sunday morning Israeli dance class in the Marcus auditorium in a recent week.

If you didn’t know, Germantown Jewish Centre has played host to a Sunday morning Israeli dance class since it was originally organized by Tamar Magdovitz in 1997 and she continues to be the administrative head of the group. The teaching and play selection, however, has been the providence of Grant Shulman since 2003.

Grant is a second grade math teacher in the Philadelphia school system who learned Israeli dance as a student while at Cornell. At first, he brought that experience to the Sunday session but has quickly blossomed as one of the premiere Israeli dance instructors in the Philadelphia area.

And it has shown in attendance. It was not unusual to be in single digits as far as attendees were concerned even 5 years ago. Today, the normal attendance is in the 20’s with a high of 28 counted sometime last December. It is an amazing sight to see this mass of people - beginner, intermediate and advanced in this type of folk dancing - gyrate, turn and rotate in sync to the music. And the music is not just Israeli. Tunes from many countries and many societies fill the air most Sunday mornings.

We asked Marc Rauer, who attends possibly 5 Israeli dance sessions a week when not teaching at the Community College of Philadelphia or computer consulting, what he likes about the Germantown session. “It’s the most friendly of the Israeli dance groups that I’ve seen in this area,” he said. Everyone was very welcoming from the first day I attended and, I might add, the whole facility of the Germantown Jewish Centre acts this way, top to bottom. Grant and Tamar are great at what they do,” he added.

Marc’s comments were echoed by several dancers. John Frank, for example, who also dances at several Israeli dance and International folk dancing sessions during the week and is a psychiatrist associated with the Hospital Of the University Of Pennsylvania added his thoughts. “Grant is very low level and non threatening for those of us who are new to Israeli dance. His patience and his practice of continual reinforcement of steps is great for any beginning student. And, there are more than enough good dancers in the circle to follow when Grant is out of view.”

Well, that takes us into a discussion of Israeli dance. Before statehood, as people would return to the would-be state of Israel, they would bring with them the folk dancing they did in other countries. This combined into a large set of dances with a kind of composite flavor – not really Jewish or Israeli. After statehood, choreographers and dancers added a Israeli flavor to this when creating new dances. Until the 1970’s or so, most dances had a feel of what is now called International folk dance and if you were to attend an International folk dance session, probably 15 to 20% of the music would be from this period.

However, the 70’s saw the creation of the Israeli music industry and nowhere do you find more styles of music. As a crossroads of the world, immigrants and visitors bring new variations on themes. This music drives the Israeli dance community and the choreographers today have a wide choice of music to put to step. In the Sunday class in the Marcus auditorium, it’s not unusual to have a traditional folk dance, a hip hop number, a variation of Waltz and a type of disco beat play in succession. Much of this selection is not Israeli in origin. And the choreographers create new “phrases” of steps to account for this diversity.

We mention this session to you for your consideration on Sunday mornings if you are in search of a fun type of exercise class as Israeli dance can be considered aerobic. Or you might want to consider this session if you are looking for a low level, non threatening dance class where every dancer is syncopated with music. Or, finally, perhaps you are in need of interacting with a very friendly group of people. There are none friendlier than those attending this Sunday morning class.

The Germantown Jewish Centre Israeli dance class meets most Sunday mornings from 10AM to 12:30 AM. In the summer, the session switches to the nighttime, generally Wednesday 7 to 9PM. The cost is $5 and iced water is available as a refreshment.

While the Arden Folk Gild offers a variety of dances at the Arden Gild Hall (contra-dance and international folk dancing), Israeli dance, held two Wednesday’s each month, may be the most unique type of dance the Folk Gild offers. The next Israeli dance session runs from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at the Gild Hall.

Compared to contra-dance and international folk dance, Israeli dancing offers new dance steps that are regularly being developed, said Susan Jonas, an Israeli dancer and treasurer of the Arden Folk Gild. Our dances include International folk dances, Israeli dances and Contra dances as well as occasional special dance workshops.

“It’s a type of dance where there are new dances constantly being created, unlike some of the other international folk dances that are very old, traditional dances,” Jonas said.

Israeli dance instructor Sharon Kleban, 51, says Israeli choreographers develop “hundreds of new dances” that are released each year. Dances are “choreographed to the most pop-sounding songs on Israeli radio.” The dances are typically very fast and energetic.

Israeli choreographers typically create dance steps to modern Jewish and Greek tunes, but not always. “A lot of Greek music gets picked up [on Israeli radio],” Kleban said. “Some of it’s translated into Hebrew and they choreograph to the original language version or to the Hebrew version. We have Israeli dances to Iranian music. Wherever [choreographers] can hear the music, they can choreograph a dance.”

Israeli choreographers introduce new moves to the Israeli dancing community by teaching them at dance sessions in Israel and at various dance sessions throughout the United States, Europe and in the Far East, Kleban said. Dance videos of new moves are also introduced to dancers via YouTube and other websites.

Dance sessions

During Kleban’s Israeli dance sessions, she spends the first hour slowly teaching beginners basic dance steps. From 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., she picks up the pace, reverting to advanced dances that her regulars are familiar with. She also introduces one or two new dances during the more advanced portion of the session. Since many men don’t attend the Israeli class, Kleban mostly teaches circle dancing during sessions, as opposed to couple dancing. “It’s kind of like a meditation in that you can get lost in it,” Jonas said of Israeli dancing. “You don’t have to think about anything else. You can sort of enjoy the experience and live in the moment.”

The Israeli dance class is a great way for dancers to meet new people, Jonas said. Since the majority of the dancers who participate in the Israeli dance sessions are Jewish, Kleban said the class could serve as a way for Jews to “feel connected to your roots.”

The fast-pace and high-energy of Israeli dance derives from the fact that “Israel is a young country,” Kleban said. The origins of the music dates back to the early 1900s, before World II, in which an Israeli woman named Rivka Sturman was instrumental in developing Israeli dances, as she felt it was important for Israeli children to have songs and dances that reflected their own culture. Kleban said the genesis of Israeli dancing started once Sturman (who’d eventually choreograph children’s dances to Israeli music) “overheard school children singing and dancing [in Israel] to a German folk song; and at that point in history she knew what was happening in Germany.”

Though Jonas is middle-aged, she says Israeli dancing keeps her feeling youthful and healthy. “It’s good exercise.”

Copyright 2012 The Community News. Some rights reserved

IF YOU GO
WHAT Arden Club presents Israeli dancing
WHEN 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4
WHERE Arden Gild Hall, 2126 The Highway, Arden
COST $4 members; $5 non-members
INFO ardenclub.org or call (302) 478-7257 or (610) 277-0844