LUCKY STRIKF
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Jewish Muscle Memory
Local Israeli folk dancing sessions
yield physical connection to heritage.
Stacy Gittleman
Contributing
Writer
I
T
hink of Israeli folk dancing,
or IFD, as Jewish muscle
memory. Dancers move with-
in a circle or in a line to one of hun-
dreds of choreographed songs as their
feet, ears and minds connect with Israeli
culture and history Three Israeli folk
dance sessions in Metro Detroit and one
in Ann Arbor are looking to welcome
new dancers of all levels ready to try out
a new way to socialize and get moving.
IFD started during the earliest pio-
neering days before the establishment of
the modern State of Israel. The pioneers
realized the modern state they were
forming with Jews from all over the
world would need some sort of unifying
art form. This is why the dances are set
to music with not only Middle Eastern
sounds but also Greek, Eastern European
and even Latino and now hip-hop influ-
ences.
"Israeli Folk Dancing connects me to
my Jewish heritage like no other activity:'
said Phil Litt of West Bloomfield, who
leads a new, free beginner's group 7-8
p.m. Tuesdays at the Oak Park Jewish
Community Center. The free session is
followed by a more advanced dance pro-
gram until 10 p.m. Additionally, there is
a third session 7-9 p.m. on Wednesdays
at the JCC in West Bloomfield. The cost
of these non-beginner sessions is $6. For
more information on these sessions, con-
tact Litt at plitt18@hotmail.com or go to
www.israelifolkdancedetroit.com .
In 2008, a group of IFD enthusiasts
started a dance session at the JCC in Ann
Arbor. The group meets 7:30-10 p.m. on
Thursdays. Laura Steiner, who runs the
Ann Arbor session with her husband,
Annon Steiner, said volunteers teach
the group both the latest dances and the
classics, and all levels are welcome. The
group attracts local residents, University
of Michigan students and faculty, and
out-of -town visitors of all ages and
dance abilities. The Steiners, who have
been married for 25 years, met through
Israeli dancing.
Litt, a retired engineer, started danc-
ing in 1968 as a student at Wayne State
University. There he found an outlet for
physical and social activity, and met his
future wife, Cheryl. In his four decades
of dancing, he has been a member
of several amateur dance groups and
caught up on the latest dances by attend-
ing dance workshops throughout the
United States and Canada.
Litt, who "doesn't understand" why
more Jews don't try out IFD, leads the
newcomers at Temple Beth El with much
patience and invites more experienced
dancers to share their dancing know-
how during each session.
Litt believes IFD is a powerful Jewish
educational tool because many dances
revolve around biblical stories, the
land of Israel and solidarity within the
Jewish community. For children, danc-
ing provides a fun, kinesthetic method
for learning about their Jewish heritage
and bolstering their Hebrew vocabulary
skills.
"Israeli folk dancing has been my pas-
sion for most of my adult life," he said.
"I want to promote it because it brings
people of all ages and backgrounds
together to share a love of Israeli music,
dance and culture:'
Karen Burstein, 55, of West
Bloomfield, started dancing just five
years ago.
"Dance has always been part of my
life' said Burstein, who has a ballet
background. "After you understand
[IFD] steps, it is easier than one might
think, and for me it combined my
passion for music and dance with my
Judaism:'
The new IFD group at Temple Beth
El started in May, took a break over the
summer and is ramping up again for
the fall, attracting about 20 dancers per
week.
Once one attains a repertoire of the
most well-known dances, an Israeli folk
dancer can seek out sessions across the
globe. IFD sessions take place around
the country and even in far-flung places
like Hong Kong or Cape Town.
"No matter where I travel, when I
find a group of Israeli dancers, it's like
I've found my lost tribe' Litt said.
aro'
4.1 -
Phil Litt of West Bloomfield leads a beginner's Israeli folk dance session
from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday nights at the Jewish Community Center in Oak Park.
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October 16 • 2014
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