Yiddish Dance Instruction for Winter/Spring of 2019

Along with my usual repertoire of Yiddish dances, I am happy to announce that I have been focusing lately on several specialties:
- IMPROVISATIONAL DANCING: I have developed a number of techniques that enable dancers to create their own solo, couple and group dances in response to the variety of klezmer music. Starting with the most basic conciousness of the change of weight from foot to foot, and the ability to gesture with the other, we work through slow and fast tempos, irregular rhythms, and explore typical body shapes and ways of structuring a dance.
- OLD AND NEW FIGURE AND COUPLE DANCES: Building from the 18th and 19th century ballroom dances that became incorporated in the Yiddish dance and klezmer repertoires, I demystify the patterns of square dances like the sher, and explore charming Europeans couple dances like the Pas d'Espan, Russian Two Step and Wengerka. Building on this, I can present new dances created on the pattern of other ballroom dances, appropriate for klezmer music, like the Ferdl Galop, Internationale, and Tzepl Tants.
- TRAINING FOR DANCE LEADERS: I take great pleasure in sharing techniques I have developed for successfuly leading all kinds of dancers in Yiddish dancing. An outgoing and musical person can, with practice, become the dance leader for their community.
Ferdl Galop in Krakow
I am scheduled to be in Europe in March of 2016 and would be happy to discuss workshop opportunities. I will return to Europe in the summer. I am also available for workshops throughout North America. Use the form below to contact me.