Memories... I've Always Loved to Dance

The last time I performed in the Israeli Folk Dance Festival was in 1970. This was the late Fred Berk's dream festival as finally the dancers danced onto the performance area of Felt Forum, which usually featured sports games, not dancers. Each dancing group was given a spot to dance to then sit down, until it was time to perform. Then we got up and danced to the center, danced our dance and then danced back to the waiting spot. After all of the groups performed we all got up and danced "Kumah Eicha" in separate circles and then exited. That was my last dance at the festival, since a few months later I got married; two months after that we boarded Greek Lines Anna Marie... Yes, that's how we came to Israel as olim chadashim, new immigrants.

^

In 1970, for the second year in a row I led the NCSY National Conference of Synagogue Youth Dance Group. We had the bride and the long skirts. Yes, we stand out in the movie. I also danced in the 1967 festival, when our group was led by the amazing Leah Weiner, Z"L. 

I was privileged to attend Fred Berk's 1967-8 Leadership and Choreography course offered to potential dance leaders from the different youth movements. I learned a lot from him that year. And I have no doubt that is the reason my 1969 NCSY Dance Group was accepted to perform in the Israeli Folk Dance Festival, even though he wasn't crazy about my choreography. One of the festival's staff members met with us and choreographed the actual dance we performed. I had to coach and dance it. Luckily my dancers had a better memory than I did, so Fred and the choreographer were pleased and allowed us to participate. 

I also danced with the NCSY delegation as we marched in the Salute to Israel Parade. The organizers used a picture of me and my friend dancing in the 1968 Parade as part of the advertisement for the 1969 Parade. Today we both live in Israel and not all that far from each other.

Can you guess which is me?

Memories...

Summertime Pool Time

 

One of the wonderful things about living in Shiloh is its swimming pool. The "icing on the cake" is that it's less than five minutes' walk from my house. I just cross the street and walk down a path... and there it is. 

Since Shiloh is a religious community, we only have what's called "separate swimming," different hours for males and females. To make that even better is that we have adult/18+ hours, too. They are the first couple of hours in the morning and the last hour in the evening before it closes for the night. 

The location was really well-planned, besides being a few minutes from my house. It's on the eastern side of the neighborhood, so the strong morning sun is cheerful and warms us up. It's just a summer pool. As you can see, it's in the open, not in a building. Every year we yearningly talk of getting it enclosed... maybe some day... 

I exercise in the pool, hydrotherapy of my own sort. Basically, I dance in the water and do the warmup exercises I learned when younger, including from Alan Wayne.

Starting Purim Early, Dance Fest for Women

Here in Shiloh we celebrate two days of Purim, although our local Chief Rabbi Elchanan Bin-Nun has been consulting with Torah scholars to get a final psak, halachik decision for us to join other ancient Biblical cities in celebrating only Shushan Purim, which is the second day.

After thirty-seven 37 years of a double Purim, it's pretty routine for me. There are advantages, OK only one or two I can think of.

1. We can give our kids a choice about which day they want to come to us, as long as it's a group decision.
2. We get to know the text of Megilat (Scroll of) Ester really well.

When I was young, I'd frequently find myself pulling an overnighter, needing all of that second night to cook for a second feast and mishloach manot, the food gifts one gives out. Now I can't do that, and I don't need to. We do less entertaining, and with just the two of us home, I also give out fewer food gifts.

At one time, I promoted having the second night as the perfect time for a Women's Purim Party. I blogged about one as Baile Rochel, Got That Rhythm! In recent years I haven't even gone to most of the parties, whichever night they had been held. Generally as I'd approach the location, the tsunami-like super-loud music pushed me away. But yesterday (a few days before Purim) was this year's party, and I had promised my friend, who was going to lead Belly Dancing that I'd come. 

My Belly Dancing friend added a few costume additions, so I'd look the part. Sorry, but I'm not posting a full body pose. I had never done that genre of dance, except that one time I wrote about, but did my best to follow. I didn't do too badly, though I was the oldest in the hall, even old enough to be the grandmother of some of the others there. 

Belly Dancing was great fun. Maybe I should convince her to give classes next year. It certainly makes one move every single muscle and parts of the body that in my case had been frozen for decades. 

Now, I'm ready for our two-day Purim Marathon!