Klezmer Dance 101: a Three-Part Workshop Series

The traditional dances that accompany the joyous and soulful music of Klezmer are enjoying an amazing renaissance in city nightclubs, concerts and festivals around the globe. Join the Yiddish Theatre Ensemble with co-director and celebrated teaching artist Bruce Bierman in a warm inclusive circle to experience the joy and soul of the Yiddish dance repertoire including: the freylekh, bulgar, joq, husidl and patsch tanz. Workshop includes archival video footage, historical cultural context and slow teaching. All backgrounds welcomed. No dance experience necessary.

Exciting news... we will be joined by Zina Pozen who will accompany live on the accordion! More about Zina:

Originally from Ukraine, Zina Pozen grew up in a family of classical musicians, playing piano from a young age. In her house, salty Yiddish sayings, contraband Barry Sisters, Stravinsky and Poulenc, traditional Ukrainian and Moldovan tunes, Utyosov and Dunaevsky weaved their sounds together. After moving to the U.S., Zina fell under the spell of the Eastern European Folklife Center Balkan Music Camps and picked up the accordion to play traditional music. Zina plays klezmer, Moldovan, Ukrainian, Turkish, Armenian, Greek rebetiko, and other styles.She was a founding member of Seattle’s infamous (and famously fun) Bucharest Drinking Team. In the Bay Area, she plays with Saul Goodman Klezmer Band, Orchestra Euphonos, Metanastys, Yeraz Ensemble, Cabin 19, Moonshine Jelly, Jonnie Pekelny and friends, and sits in with Balkan Sunday jams. Outside of music, Zina is a language technologist, training robots to help humans learn human languages.

This is a 3-part workshop series that will take place on three Sunday afternoons in May: May 7, 14, and 21. Registration for this event will cover all three workshops. It's okay if you need to miss a Sunday!

Please reach out to Emma Regev (emma.regev@jcceastbay.org) with any questions.

COVID note: the workshops will be taking place in the JCC's theater space with doors/windows open.

JCC East Bay COVID Guidelines:

• All JCC staff are fully vaccinated (including boosters).
• N95s or surgical masks are strongly encouraged indoors. Masks are optional outdoors.
• Please be mindful of social distancing.

JCC East Bay is committed to equal access to all:

The JCC East Bay invites you to join us for this program. We welcome and support our diverse Jewish community, people of all religions, nationalities, and socioeconomic backgrounds, communities of color, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community.

No one will be turned away. If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact Community Engagement Coordinator Emma Regev (emma.regev@jcceastbay.org).

The JCC East Bay believes it is important for people of all abilities to feel welcome and included in our space. Our 100+ year old historic building does offer limitations, and cannot accommodate everyone in the way we would hope. Please let us know your specific needs so we can best make you feel included in our space.

JCC East Bay policies around photography/videography:

Please be aware that JCC East Bay will be taking photographs at this event and may use the photos in our marketing. If you do not want your image recorded for marketing purposes, please make your wishes known to the photographer, and/or the event organizers. By participating in this event, you consent to your voice, name, and/or likeness being used, without compensation, for use in any and all media.