Available Programs
Courses and Lectures/ Community Activities/Family Activities
Courses and Lectures
A Brief History of Dance in Jewish Culture
A jog through Jewish history, as we follow the uses and varieties of dance experience that Jews have embraced. The course will include biblical words for dance and descriptions of dance events, a Jewish Renaissance dancing master and pageantry, the folk development of Yemenite, Chassidic and Yiddish dance styles, and the emergence of Israeli dance.
Includes videos, live presentation, and participatory experiences. About 8-10 course hours. Can also be presented as a lecture/demo (90 minutes).
A BACKDROP OF ETERNITY:
The Long and Entertaining History of Jewish Dance in Pageantry and Performance
Jews have long used dance not only as a participatory art, an expression of personal and communal joy; but have also created dances for performance by the few for the many. Often these performances contained strong political and educational messages. Find out about the greatest show on earth, at the time of the Temple, and those famous dancing rabbis. How a wedding entertainment could have a political message. The curious evolution of the Dance of Death. How Pageantry has been used in recent times to fight Hitler, assimilate immigrants, and create a new nation and the New Jew.
Connecting Klezmer to the Jewish Wedding and Dancing
(First presented at Yidstockl)
World-famous dance instructor Steve Weintraub, often referred to as the Pied Piper of Yiddish Dance, explores the connection between klezmer and dancing and the Jewish wedding from historical and cultural perspectives in a multimedia presentation. this lecture demonstration will get you tapping your toes and may even give you the chutzpah to dance along!
Community Activities
Yiddish Dance Workshop
Klezmer music was mostly created to be dance music. This course covers the figures, steps and styling for many of the dances in the klezmer repertoire. Learn the lively Freylekhs, the boisterous Bulgar, the stately Zhok, that essential Jewish square dance, the Sher (a party with 7 of your friends), and many other circlc, couple and set dances.
Recreated Old World Wedding
A workshop leading to performance. Participants learn the traditional dances associated with weddings, learn about the traditional Jewish wedding and about European Jewish communities. Participants also share and incorporate family stories that create the characters who will celebrate a wedding to which the greater community is invited. An extraordinarily exhilarating experience for everyone involved!
Introduction to Israeli Dancing
A 6-8 session mini-course teaching the fundamental moves in Israeli dancing, some classic dances, and some background history.
Family Shabbat Dancing
Teaching and leading dances that enhance the Shabbat experience and that give families something to learn and enjoy together. Can also be coordinated to any other holiday, or be devoted to one group only (adults, school children, seniors or singles, for example)
Community Performance and Pageantry
I can develop and direct community members in events that combine music, movement and dramatics. For instance: a Purimspiel, an artistic Shabbat service, a holiday celebration, or an historical pageant.
Make Them Dance (For musicians and bands)
So much Klezmer music has become concert music, and its relation to the dance is getting lost. Participants are divided into 2 groups- one plays while the other dances. Musicians get to learn the correct tempos and feeling for each style of dance, as well as the feel of dancing themselves. Astonishing improvements in playing occur very quickly.
Family Activities
Awesome and Easy Jewish Stunts and Dances
Dancing at a simcha is not only a pleasure, it is also a mitzvah, and to dance is something like bringing a gift to those celebrating. Learn to show off with the Bottle Dance, and be part of a Human Roulette Wheel and the Crushing Walls!
Jewish Folktales and Dances
A one-man show of storytelling, with audience participation, featuring the story of King Solomon and the Bee, the tale of brave and clever Barzila, thin as a nail and no bigger than a snail, and the wedding of Gimpel's son in Chelm.
Intergenerational Story Workshop
For grandparents and grandkids. An opportunity to share family stories and work together creating either a short original puppet skit with handmade puppets, or an old time radio play with sound effects, based on a favorite story.
A Brief History of Dance in Jewish Culture
A jog through Jewish history, as we follow the uses and varieties of dance experience that Jews have embraced. The course will include biblical words for dance and descriptions of dance events, a Jewish Renaissance dancing master and pageantry, the folk development of Yemenite, Chassidic and Yiddish dance styles, and the emergence of Israeli dance.
Includes videos, live presentation, and participatory experiences. About 8-10 course hours. Can also be presented as a lecture/demo (90 minutes).
A BACKDROP OF ETERNITY:
The Long and Entertaining History of Jewish Dance in Pageantry and Performance
Jews have long used dance not only as a participatory art, an expression of personal and communal joy; but have also created dances for performance by the few for the many. Often these performances contained strong political and educational messages. Find out about the greatest show on earth, at the time of the Temple, and those famous dancing rabbis. How a wedding entertainment could have a political message. The curious evolution of the Dance of Death. How Pageantry has been used in recent times to fight Hitler, assimilate immigrants, and create a new nation and the New Jew.
Connecting Klezmer to the Jewish Wedding and Dancing
(First presented at Yidstockl)
World-famous dance instructor Steve Weintraub, often referred to as the Pied Piper of Yiddish Dance, explores the connection between klezmer and dancing and the Jewish wedding from historical and cultural perspectives in a multimedia presentation. this lecture demonstration will get you tapping your toes and may even give you the chutzpah to dance along!
Community Activities
Yiddish Dance Workshop
Klezmer music was mostly created to be dance music. This course covers the figures, steps and styling for many of the dances in the klezmer repertoire. Learn the lively Freylekhs, the boisterous Bulgar, the stately Zhok, that essential Jewish square dance, the Sher (a party with 7 of your friends), and many other circlc, couple and set dances.
Recreated Old World Wedding
A workshop leading to performance. Participants learn the traditional dances associated with weddings, learn about the traditional Jewish wedding and about European Jewish communities. Participants also share and incorporate family stories that create the characters who will celebrate a wedding to which the greater community is invited. An extraordinarily exhilarating experience for everyone involved!
Introduction to Israeli Dancing
A 6-8 session mini-course teaching the fundamental moves in Israeli dancing, some classic dances, and some background history.
Family Shabbat Dancing
Teaching and leading dances that enhance the Shabbat experience and that give families something to learn and enjoy together. Can also be coordinated to any other holiday, or be devoted to one group only (adults, school children, seniors or singles, for example)
Community Performance and Pageantry
I can develop and direct community members in events that combine music, movement and dramatics. For instance: a Purimspiel, an artistic Shabbat service, a holiday celebration, or an historical pageant.
Make Them Dance (For musicians and bands)
So much Klezmer music has become concert music, and its relation to the dance is getting lost. Participants are divided into 2 groups- one plays while the other dances. Musicians get to learn the correct tempos and feeling for each style of dance, as well as the feel of dancing themselves. Astonishing improvements in playing occur very quickly.
Family Activities
Awesome and Easy Jewish Stunts and Dances
Dancing at a simcha is not only a pleasure, it is also a mitzvah, and to dance is something like bringing a gift to those celebrating. Learn to show off with the Bottle Dance, and be part of a Human Roulette Wheel and the Crushing Walls!
Jewish Folktales and Dances
A one-man show of storytelling, with audience participation, featuring the story of King Solomon and the Bee, the tale of brave and clever Barzila, thin as a nail and no bigger than a snail, and the wedding of Gimpel's son in Chelm.
Intergenerational Story Workshop
For grandparents and grandkids. An opportunity to share family stories and work together creating either a short original puppet skit with handmade puppets, or an old time radio play with sound effects, based on a favorite story.
