Learning the Steps: An Evening of Israeli Folk Dancing
Admittedly, I’m not sure I was the target demographic for the JCC’s Israeli Folk Dancing class. That being said, I had an amazing time getting to learn some simple dances, as well as be a part of a tight knit group of dancers for the night.
The class started with learning some of the main steps featured in Israeli dances. Thankfully, I wasn’t the only first-timer in the class, so I had a buddy to lean on for some of the more complicated steps. We continued to build our skills with each dance introducing a set of new steps until it was decided that we, more or less, knew enough of the steps to simply move from dance to dance without stopping. Each step was called out throughout the dances, which I greatly appreciated. Even with a dance background, it was hard to simply copy the moves, since the majority of the dances were done in a circle.
While I was unfamiliar with any of the songs being played, the regular dancers had their favorites, which were requested at ease throughout the night. They kindly told me which ones were easy to follow along with, and which ones I might have a better time just watching. I was told they had a collective repertoire of over 500 of these short dances! Even though every one might not have known every dance right off the bat, it was clear that they were familiar enough to fully have it by the end. I was beyond impressed by everyone’s ability to pick up and join a dance as it was happening.
This class was not what I was expecting. When I think of Israeli dancing, I picture the high energy, loud, exciting dances brought to JCC Day Camps by the Israeli staff each summer. In contrast, the dances I did during this class were much lower impact- still incredibly fun, just geared toward an older generation instead of a summer camp full of kids. Even though the dances were a bit slower paced, the class was a surprising workout! I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a less intense Zumba-style experience.
Beyond just the dances, what made this class really enjoyable was the other participants. They were incredibly kind when teaching each step, taking the time to go over it until we felt completely comfortable. They shared facts and stories about the origins of the different dances and songs, as well as from their personal lives. It was clear to me that the bond they all shared stretched far beyond the walls of the JCC and past the two-hour time constraint of the class.
Currently, the class definitely leans towards an older demographic. This isn’t too much a surprise, as I was recently told that Israeli dancing was a big trend in the 1970s. However, even without being the class’s target audience, I had an amazing time! I believe this class can be enjoyed by all ages. The beginner dances are simple enough that even young children could pick them up. The other dancers are incredibly friendly and welcoming. If you have any interest in trying Israeli dancing, I highly recommend going to this class, you will not be disappointed!
