Flowing through the Spring: A Jewish Dance Series

Through this four-part Jewish movement series, we are going to use different modalities of dance to explore and express our Jewish past, present and future. By participating in dances that have been performed for generations, in dances that are new and in dance that has never been done before, these workshops will help participants feel what it means to bring in your whole self in movement through Jewish embodied movement.

Join us as these dynamic local dance masters in SF Bay Area, take us through a series of creative movement. From choreographed, guided movement to expressive free form dance, this series will bring the joy of movement to all, no previous dance experience needed.

May 10: World Jewish Dance

From traditional Israeli folk dances to Sephardic, we will experience the many enlivening rhythms, funky grooves and elegant gestures that make up the ancient Jewish dance form. Taught with patient care and attention to context, we will feature traditional Yemenite, ecstatic Hasidic and joy busting Klezmer dance along with creative explorative movements of the Hebrew letters.

From the moment the prophetess Miriam broke out her timbrels and dances across the other side of the Red Sea, dance has played a central role in Jewish tradition and cultural life throughout Israel and the Diaspora. In this workshop we will allow our body to explore our traditional dances that have been lost or disregarded as the Jewish people have moved from place to place.

All bodies and abilities welcome and no dance experience required.

Led by:

Celebrated Jewish dance master, Bruce Bierman is co-artistic director of Berkeley’s award-winning Yiddish Theatre Ensemble, where he directed and choreographed ‘Di Megilleh of Itzik Manger’ for the Jewish Music Festival, Sholem Asch’s ‘God of Vengeance’ and most recently served as co-producer and dance/theater dramaturg for the recent production of ‘Indecent’ at the San Francisco Playhouse. Bruce also performed and taught world dance with the Aman Folk Dance Ensemble of Los Angeles and is now a much sought after teacher and presenter of Jewish Dance throughout California.

Series Schedule: Every other Wednesday at 4pm

April 12 // Gaga, freeform modern Israeli dance with James Graham

April 26 // Ecstatic Dance, free flowing, feel the rhythm movement with Ilene Serlin

May 10 // World Jewish Dance, easy to follow Yemenite, ecstatic Hasidic, joy-busting Klezmer dance and beyond with Bruce Bierman

May 24 // Embodied Dance, conscious dance through themes of The Tree of Life with Julie Emden