Klezmer music is the music of the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe. It is joyous and infectious, and has its own dance tradition. Come learn how to dance to Freilachs, Horas, Chosidl, and Sherele. This is easy, fun, community dancing. No partner or experience is necessary, and all ages are welcome. You will feel like a character in “Fiddler on the Roof,” and you will leave knowing just what to do the next time you are at a Jewish wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, or holiday event!
Music for the workshop will be provided by the celebrated and irresistible band Ellis Island.
Yael Schy has been teaching various forms of folk dance and partner dancing for over 40 years. Her focus is on truly feeling and expressing the music and on how to dance with others, rather than just learning steps. She is a regular dance and theater instructor at Lark in the Morning World Music and Dance Camp, and has also taught for many years for various dance camps, such as Dance Awakening, the Bay Area Country Dance Society, Alta Sierra, the West Coast Ukulele Retreat, and at Dominican University, as well as regularly teaching a variety of dance traditions at the SF Free Folk Festival. Professionally, Yael uses both dance and improvisational theater to teach communication skills and team building in the workplace.
The Ellis Island Folk Band is happy to collaborate once again with Yael Schy. The band has been delighting audiences for over three decades and is truly an Old World Folk Band. Its repertoire includes lively freilachs, soulful doinas, spirited bulgars, old world waltzes, Yiddish vocals, and traditional music from Eastern Europe, Greece, Russia, Spain and Italy. Ellis Island has been featured in concerts, festivals, delicatessens, community centers and colleges and has performed for dances, anniversaries, memorial services, circumcisions, baby namings and, of course, weddings, bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs throughout Northern California. The band has been honored with Proclamations from the cities of Berkeley and Albany for its contributions to the community. The band was also awarded first prize as Best Civilian Band at the July 4th City of Alameda parade. Ellis Island will bring a spring to your step, laughter to your lips, a tear to your eye, and joy to your heart.