Ira Weisburd's Israeli Dance Workshop this week at B'nai Israel was a big success, attended by over 40 people, which is great for Gainesville, with a small contigent coming from Jacksonville on a Monday night even.

Kol Simcha (KS), Gainesville International Folk Dancers (GFID), Veronica Lane and company from Jacksonville and my B'nai Israel group, along with some independents were the participants.

Jack Seltzer of GIFD wrote: "On Halloween day, Andy Weitzen organized a 3 hour workshop with Ira Weisburd, a fine choreographer from south Florida. Just a fine Israeli – novelty dance workshop which moved along all evening….Ira went through 13 dances in the 3 hours. An Israeli Hasspico Mozart(boy, Israeli doing slight Greek to Mozart music…far out), a cha cha espana(a turning 90 deg. Kind of novelty dance which I’d like to do tomorrow night….yes, we dance tomorrow night at the Fellowship!) , and a gypsy styled dance called Hatzoani and a dance called Yeminite Feet, etc. Anyway, just an upbeat fun and extremely quick 3 hour night of dancing non-stop."

Tony Arroyo of Kol Simcha wrote: "The workshop last night was a huge success for al the KS people that attended. Ira is a very good teacher and a lot of his stuff is really nice. Thank you for your hard work! ... It allowed me to invite a broader spectrum and 3-4 of those non-dancers did show up and enjoyed it."

Veronica Lane from Jacksonville wrote: "Charlie, Linda Holfinger , Lyle and I just returned from Ira's workshop in Gainesville. What a wonderful teacher he is! So nice to see my int'l dance friends there, too."

Thanks to all who came Ira’s workshop for making it such a fun evening.

We have beginners Israeli dancing on Monday nights from 7 to 8 pm and intermediate from 8 to 9 pm. Everyone is welcome. $5 per family. Ages 22 and under free. At B’nai Israel, 3830 NW 16 Blvd, on the right side in the back.

Kol Simcha Israeli dances on Wednesday nights.

Gainesville International Folk Dancers dance on Friday nights.

See the folk dance newsletter for details. You can sign up here. www.GainesvilleDance.com

Here are the dances Ira did in order done:
Boi Malka - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG3vRjxMbFw
Sonata - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BOX1_-OQ4U
Hatzoani - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMwnmtA80O4
Esa Enai - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tTsCwXSWjE
Zemer Nooge (Hatishma Koli) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_QMv9IsBnQ
Borat - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=188lKJOA5gw
Kolena - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sshZ8aY-CGU
Raglyim Temaniot - I have a video
Cumbia Semana - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4-8McI-e_4
Cha Cha Espana - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYg_7rs_u-M
Shuj Shuj Zemer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiSNaBFdEbM (dance)
Hora Europa - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg7_3a1dgJ4
Hassapico Mozart - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhPfOphksaY

I have videos of the workshop itself, but not posted yet.