History of Israeli Dance in Honolulu

Israeli Folk dancing began in Honolulu in the 1970's. Nikki (Miriam) Paisner led the group and staged performances in the community until she left for Colorado. We were without an official home until, at the urging of David Hanan, a native-born Israeli, a new group was formed in 1988 led by David and Laurie Hanan and Ellen Spielvogel, soon joined by Fran Margulies. Amy Kogut and David Brandon supplied the music from their collection. We met weekly at the Kahala Recreation Center and later at the University of Hawaii.

The Jewish Federation of Hawaii sponsored us until HAWAII ISRAELI RECREATIONAL DANCE was born and officially incorporated in Hawaii in 1999. Two years later we received our own federal non-profit status, and we have been dancing continuously ever since.

Our members have taken great pleasure in joining the international community of Israeli Dance both by going to mainland workshops and by bringing choreographers and well-known teachers here. We have hosted Danny Uziel, Israel Yakovee, David Edery, Edy Greenblatt, Shlomo Bachar, William Harvey, Ira Weisburd, Roberto Bagnoli. For some years we had a close relationship with the Trask family, Barbara Jones, and their dance clubs in New Zealand.

The experienced teachers now are Ellen Spielvogel and Diane Miller, helped by Rachel Ahuvia, our resident Israeli. Rachel also leads HORA!, a small and dedicated performing group active for the last ten years in community and synagogue festivals.

Our regular home now is the upstairs ballroom of the Ala Wai Golf Course Clubhouse at 404 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu 96815. Our sessions are the first Sunday of every month 1- 4 PM and the third Sunday 2-4 PM, with additional sessions often scheduled. (Call or email us!) We welcome visitors. We reserve the first hour and a half of the first Sunday of all months for beginning and intermediate level instruction.

Fran Margulies, President,

Hawaii Israeli Recreational Dance

November 13, 2013

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Dances (with videos) * Photos of us * Videos of us

History of Israeli Dance in Honolulu * Other folk dance groups in Hawaii