History of Israeli Folk Dance in Portland, OR

History of Israeli Folk Dance in Portland, Oregon

Introduction

Updated for Israel@70 Celebration Through Dance     

6/23/18 at the MJCC

Based on the Commemorative Article for the 40th Anniversary Celebration

4/20/13 at the MJCC

By Diane Betcher, with edits from Sue Wendel, Debbi Montrose and Donna Cole

From Rokdim: Who wants a deep dive into the history of Israeli folk dance? Jump in....https://magazines.rokdim.co.il/en/article/will-we-have-our-own-original-folk-dances/?artic=7 

Portland, Oregon has a vibrant, thriving Israeli folk dance community,  and as of summer of 2018,  consists of open dancing weekly Sunday and Thursday nights, open dancing on the 1st and 3rd and 5th Mondays, a partners session on Thursday nights, a beginner’s class on Wednesdays, and an intermediate class on Thursday evenings.  This article is written to commemorate over 40 years of Israeli folk dancing in Portland and updated for Israel@70 Celebration Through Dance, held at the MJCC on Sat. June 23, 2018.

For the 2013 article, Diane Betcher interviewed more than 50 dancers – from past to present. From their memories and recollections, she has woven together this amazing and detailed history to date. History, however is fluid and depends on one's perspective. The following account, therefore, is our best attempt to capture facts and memories. If, as you read it, you find something to add, or needs clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us at pifdnews@gmail.com.

Before 1972: International and Israeli Dancing

Israeli folk dance formally began at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center (MJCC) in 1972, but its roots go back to 1950s Portland.  In the '50s and '60s Portland had a thriving International folk dance community that continues to the present.  Local colleges including Reed, Portland State, Lewis and Clark, and Portland Community College all held international dance sessions on their campuses. 

International dancing included many Eastern European dances:  Russian, Balkan, Romanian, Greek and Israeli.  Reed College focused more on Balkan and Israeli dances.  In the early 1960s, Pearl Atkinson, an associate professor of P.E. at Reed, was instrumental in the promotion of Israeli folk dance and sponsored a number of Israeli folk dance workshops there.  She brought Israeli choreographers to Portland to teach at these workshops and was personal friends with Rivka Sturman, one of Israel's premier historic folk dance choreographers and leaders. Two Reed students, Marna Kleinman and Bill Nelson (who both still dance today) were instrumental in building the foundation of the Israeli folk dance community here in Portland in the 1960s and 70s.

1972: The Development of Israeli Folk Dancing in Portland

Marna Kleinman (left) teaches new dancers at the JCC in 1972.

In 1972 an MJCC high school club called The Free University offered crafts, trips to see plays in Ashland and camping trips.  The facilitator of the group, Andrea Hunter, asked Marna Kleinman to come one night and teach Israeli folk dance to the students – it was called the “Dances of Israel” program.  The group enjoyed it so much they asked Marna to come back. 

Marna began teaching on a weekly basis and held an open dance session at the MJCC after the class. Two original members of that group, Debbi Montrose and Sue Wendel still regularly dance to this day.  The open dance sessions attracted many International folk dancers, especially from Reed College, including Bill Nelson who still teaches and dances at present.

Bill had previously taught an International folk dance class at Wilson High School which had prompted The Free University group to start the Dances of Israel program.  Bill has been involved with International folk dance since the 1960s and was a session leader of International dance at Fulton Park Community Center in SW Portland.   He also arranged for Israeli folk dancing in the amphitheater in Washington Park. Dancers still remember how special it was to dance barefoot under the stars.  Allison and Kevin recall that when he led International folk dance session at Fulton he always celebrated birthdays and special occasions.

                                   Ayalah performs at the MJCC circa 1973. Debbi Montrose and 

David Seares, Sue Wendel and Jim Spivak, Marna Kleinman and Danny Georges.

Bill had previously taught an International folk dance class at Wilson High School which had prompted the Free University group to start the Dances of Israel program. Bill has been involved with International folk dance since the 1960s and was a session leader of International dance at Fulton Park Community Center in SW Portland. He also arranged for Israeli folk dancing in the amphitheater in Washington Park. Dancers still remember how special it was to dance under the stars. Allison and Kevin recall that when he led the International folk dance session at Fulton he always celebrated birthdays and special occasions.

Israeli folk dance continues to flourish in Portland due in large part to our dedicated leaders both past and present. As mentioned previously, Marna Kleinman started the first Israeli folk dance group at the MJCC and also started a performance group called Ayalah, both of which she led from 1972 - 1973. Ayalah was very active and performed in many sites throughout Portland and at events such as the Seattle Folk Life Festival. According to dancers Debbi Montrose, Sue Wendel, and Jon Zingeser, Marna was an excellent teacher and session leader and inspired dancers with her energy, talent and passion.

Succession of Enthusiastic Leaders Carry On

Mid-70s

After Marna left to attend graduate school in California in 1973 (eventually making Aliyah to Israel in 1978), Bill Nelson became the session leader at the MJCC for a short time.  

Bill Nelson leads dancers at Washington Park. Jeri, Stan,...

Ayalah members: ?, Clay Swartz, Vicki, Heim, Ann Fischer, David Sears, Sue Kern Wendel, and Suzanne. Circa 1975

Sue (Kern) Wendel (second in from right became the Israeli dance session leader at the MJCC around 1974 until she moved to Michigan in 1977. The dance session met on Thursday nights and danced in the large auditorium drawing more than 50 dancers at a time. Dancers say they were inspired by Sue’s excellent teaching methods.  Sue said she would teach the name and meaning behind each dance so that dancers could have a more complete experience. Sue also facilitated Ayalah performing group until 1975 when Mimi Epstein took over that position which she held until 1980.

During those early years a number of workshops coordinated by Mimi Epstein and the MJCC Cultural Arts Director Joyce Shields brought choreographers from Israel to Portland to inspire and teach.  Fred Berk, Rivka Sturman, Deborah Kerr (faculty from Oregon State University) and Moshiko, are but a few of the national and international dancers and choreographers that have taught at workshops in Portland over the years. 

After Sue left in 1977, Ann Fischer (z"l)  became the session leader at the MJCC with assistance from Dee Wolf and Bonnie Bliesner. Dancers remember Ann, who passed away in 1991, for her love and commitment to Israeli folk dance and the great care she took in presenting material to her fellow dancers.  Ann was a great teacher and could break a dance down and link it together.  Ann led the dancing in Portland from 1978 to 1982.

The 1980s

Ayalah. Front row: Larry Morandi, Tom, Cheryl. Ann, second row on left,  

 and Lynn Taylor. Back row: ?, ?, Bonnie Bliesner, back row third from left, Clay Swartz, ?, Janet, Irene.

Dee Wolf and Bonnie Bliesner were the session leaders and taught classes as well  from 1982 to 1985. Dancers remember them as very welcoming to all dancers, and as very dedicated and conscientious leaders.

Session leader Hoa Browne at right.

Hoa Browne, a regular Israeli folk dancer for years in Portland, became the teacher and session leader at the MJCC in 1986 for two years.  According to dancers her excellent teaching skills and her encouragement inspired all dancers.  One dancer recalled how Hoa would sing the melody as she called out each dance step.  Hoa also brought a number of dances back to Portland from her travels to other dance workshops and brought Israeli choreographers to Portland to teach at workshops as well.

Dudi Amir at the 40th anniversary celebration, April 20, 2013

Dudi Amir became the session leader and teacher in 1988.  He led the Café Shalom session on Tuesday nights and taught classes on Thursday nights at the MJCC.  Dudi led workshops and had Israeli folk dance parties at the “J” on Saturday nights.  He started Israeli folk dance at Fulton Park Community Center on Sunday nights.  Dudi led dance for the longest period in Portland history – he was a session leader for 22 years until 2010.

Dancers were inspired by his big smile, his big bounce, and his pure love, passion, expertise and joy for Israeli folk dance. According to several dancers, he embodies Israeli folk dance.  He is from Israel the source – the spiritual center of our dance.  Dudi was an excellent teacher and always explained the dance – its context and meaning.  He was open, accepting of all dancers regardless of their ability or who they were.  He wanted dancers to have fun.  

The 1990s

Eli Ronin was the session leader for a short time in 1992 until he returned to Israel.

Allison Victor began as a session leader and teacher at the MJCC in 1998.  A short while later, William Harvey and Allison began rotating as session leaders. With regard to William, dancers say they were inspired by William's excellent teaching skills and his incredible gift for detail and style.  Dancers appreciate his grace and expertise as a dancer.  William moved to California in 2015.

Dancers were, and still are, inspired by Allison’s excellent teaching skills and her enthusiasm and encouragement.  They also appreciate how she celebrates birthdays, holidays and special occasions. Allison moved the group to The Chalet in 2004 because of the impending renovation of the MJCC.  The location was moved again in 2017 to 8836 SW 17th, Portland.  Allison has been a session leader for 20 years.  She continues to run the sessions on Thursday nights, teaches an intermediate class before each session, and currently teaches a Wednesday night beginner’s class at the MJCC.  

The 2000s and Beyond

When Dudi left in 2010, Donna Cole became the session leader at Fulton Park Community Center.  Dancers are inspired by her excellent teaching skills that are enhanced by her travels to Israel during the annual Karmiel Festival's special teaching course for teachers worldwide. Dancers say she is able to break the steps down for easy learning, and they appreciate her friendly, inclusive manner, and her grace on the dance floor.

Starting in 2002 to present, Avi Tayer leads folk dancing for partner dances at Congregation Ahavath Achim, now on Thursday evenings.  The dancers are inspired by his encouragement and his love of dance especially partner dances.

Allison leads a Thursday night session and intermediate class, and a beginner's class at the J. After the 2013 40th anniversary celebration, Sue Wendel was inspired to start a new session which meets 1st, 3rd and 5th Mondays at Leedy Grange in Cedar Mill.  It focuses on classic Israeli dances, some International, and currently will offer a beginner’s portion upon request.

Portland Israeli Dance Performing Groups Over the Years

Front: Jane Blum, Hoa Browne. Back: Joan Thompson, Beth Gilmore, Cheryl Ann Luft, Michael Kondo, Carolyn Brown, Larry Morandi.

Ayalah

Portland has had a number of Israeli dance performing groups during the past 40 years.  Marna founded and led Ayalah performing group in 1972-1973, Sue followed until 1975, after which Mimi Epstein led for the next five years.   According to Mimi, she directed a group of 12 dancers and coordinated a number of workshops including bringing in a number of Israeli choreographers to teach new dances to the group.  Mimi brought in famous Israeli choreographers such as Ayala Goren, Moshiko, Rivka Sturman and Chaim Livne with assistance from Pearl Atkinson, who worked behind the scenes to bring folk dance leaders to Portland.  The Ayalah performing group was very active and committed.  They practiced once or twice a week and performed at many sites in Portland and as far away as the Seattle Folk Life festival.

Café Shalom Dancers

Cafe Shalom Dancers entertained monthly at Robison Health Center until 2016. 

(2/26/15) See article: http://orjewishlife.com/they-make-you-feel-like-dancing/

Donna Cole established and was Artistic Director and choreographer for the Café Shalom Dancers performance group from 1989 until 1994. The Café Shalom Dancers performance group started as a casual performing group. At one of their first performances they were introduced as the Shalom Dancers, and the name stuck. In 1991, Director of the Israel Programs Rhonda Fox offered sponsorship from the MJCC. At the same time, she created the name “Café Shalom” for the Israeli folk dance program at the JCC, and the original Shalom Dancers were renamed the Café Shalom Dancers. The group consisted of college students and young adults. The Café Shalom Dancers’ mission is to share the meaning and diversity of Israeli dance and culture by presenting a varied program inspired by traditional and contemporary Israeli folk dances.

The Café Shalom Dancers were a choreographed, rehearsed performance group consisting of 23 dancers, structured into an Israeli-styled performance group. They performed at festivals, MJCC special events, Reed College, The Oregon Historical Society, Portland Artquake and the Inter-Faith Council for Peace in the Middle East, to name just a few.

In 1993, Melba Davidson began inviting Israeli folk dancers to perform for the evening program for residents at the Robison Home and the Rose Schnitzer Manor. The monthly dance program has continued for 20+ years, and the group has become known as the Café Shalom Dancers. Melba says the residents look forward to the dance performances and the social interaction with the dancers after the performance – and according to the residents, it is one of their favorite forms of entertainment.

The current (2015) dance group facilitators are Melba Davidson and Duane Robbins.Cafe Shalom Dancers continue entertaining residents at Cedar Sinai Park / Robison Health Center the  third Thursday of each month , now for over 20+ years. It is an open group in that participants are regularly recruited from the pool of local experienced dancers.

Pnai Malach

Eric Singer (bearded guy, still dances today) started a performance group in 1996 called Pnai Malach. They performed for five years. According to Eric, there were 12 people in his group including his two daughters, Sylvia and Becca. They represented Israel in the Rose Parade, performed at Pioneer Square, at Reed College and at Bar Mitzvahs and weddings.

B'YACHAD Northwest – An Annual Weekend Folk Dance Retreat

A number of dancers interviewed for this article have mentioned that B'YACHAD, an annual Pacific Northwest dance retreat founded by local dancer Debbi Montrose in 2001, has strengthened their sense of community and thank Debbi for her time and effort in planning and organizing B'YACHAD for the past 18 years and counting. 

One dancer said that she is so jazzed and inspired at B'YACHAD and that it keeps our community strong.  Another dancer said that she has wonderful memories of B'YACHAD and that sometimes it was the only time she went on vacation - it is a huge treat.  It makes us a closer community because we have a chance to talk and get to know each other.  See B"YACHAD page on this site for more history.

One dancer said that Debbi has played a pivotal role in Portland Israeli folk dance and that she has increased our sense of community exponentially by planning and organizing B'YACHAD every year.  Another dancer said that B'YACHAD has expanded our community - this annual weekend together has allowed us to know what a community truly is. See B"YACHAD page on this site for more history.

2013/18: Forty-five Years and Counting

During the past 45 years the music and dance steps have expanded and evolved – the dances have become more complex, beautiful and meaningful.  Technology and the Internet have changed the way the music is played as well as how dances are learned and taught.  Sue recalls in the early 70s, lugging a heavy record player into the MJCC auditorium and placing nickels on the stylus so that the needle wouldn't jump as the dancers jumped. Dudi remembers carrying a big heavy box with records for each night of dancing.  Allison remembers playing the music from 33 rpm albums – trying to place the phonograph needle exactly on the right spot on the record – that took some skill in itself!

In the early 90’s, Donna and Warren Cole made new individual cassette tapes and Warren made the first computer-generated dance-programming list.  He recorded and labeled and numbered each song on an individual tape and organized them into two suitcases!  It was the beginning of the folk dance technology age.

William Harvey helped bring the program into the digital age so the session leaders could program with computers.  It was a huge move forward for ease of programming and uninterrupted dancing throughout the evenings.

Session leaders Dudi and Allison have said that in the past, they have had to learn the dances from attending workshops or by reading dance steps from written instructions and memorize them.  In those days dancers relied totally on the leaders.  Today, leaders still learn dances by attending workshops, but they also learn dances from the Internet, as do many of the dancers themselves.  This, they say, has changed the dynamics of the group and the relationship between teacher and student.

From record players and vinyl, to tape recorders and tapes, to computerized playlists to iPods, webs sites, Facebook and Youtube, session leaders and dancers remember how things were, and how things change, but what is constant is the love and joy of people joined together in Israeli dance.

Israeli Dancing and the Sense of Community

Our dancers feel very strongly that dance creates a sense of community. They state that Israeli dance promotes friendships, camaraderie and is a positive way for people to connect for fun and exercise. One dancer feels that dance is so powerful that it creates an intimate environment. Many dancers say there is a special bond between people when you hold hands - it is communing - it is spiritual. They say that dancing brings together a disparate group of people who have different outlooks and different politics. One dancer said that the togetherness of dance, that overrides all else, is the closest we come to peace. Dance built a sense of community in the past and now the present because anytime people come together to share what they love it creates community.

Most of our dancers feel that Israeli dancing in Portland has a special atmosphere. They say it is special because it feels like family. We have a comfortable and welcoming feeling of community and are glad when newcomers join our group. We have dedicated session leaders who celebrate our birthdays, holidays and special occasions. Our group is composed of exceptionally warm and nice people. We have grown to know each other and care about each other and we support each other in good times and in hard times.

Many of our dancers have made life long friends as well as soul mates. Couples met each other at Israeli folk dance and have even gotten married. These fortunate dancers include Sue and Peter, Bonnie and Larry, Ravid and Arlene, Kevin and Lynda, Joanna and Robert, Gary and Shani, David and Zivit, and most recently Becca and Moshe, and Jonathan and Elizabeth, to name a few.

Celebrating the Past, Present, and Future

Ayalah dancers reunite at the 40th anniversary celebration in 2013. Back l to r: Bonnie Bliesner, Sheryl Horwitz, Debbi Montorse. Middle: Debbie Samuels, Sue Ryan, Sue Wendel, Lynn Taylor. Front: Clay Swartz, Shannon Ellis, Marna Kleinman, Mimi Epstein, Jon Zingeser.

During the past 45 years, there has been an unbroken chain of dedicated and passionate session leaders and dancers, different dance locations, and dancers that come and go, but Portland Israeli folk dance continues to thrive – because the roots run deep and strong, and the spirit of Israeli folk dance will continue to flourish now and well into the future.

In 2013 Portland celebrated over 40 years of Israeli folk dancing with a commemorative event at the MJCC with a dance program that included workshops and sessions for everyone, and guest choreographer Elad Shatmer from Israel.  We appreciated the support from the Portland Jewish Federation and the MJCC.  It allowed us to offer a tremendous opportunity for Portland Israeli Dancing and the entire community to celebrate the past 40 years of dancing in Portland, and to look forward to the next 40 years!  In keeping up with the times, we also have two web sites: portlandisraelidance.com, and Portland Israeli Folk Dance News (sites.google.com/site/pifdnews) and a Facebook page (Israeli Folk Dancing in Portland OR).

In 2018, we once again gather as a community to celebrate Israel’s 70th Anniversary at the MJCC through dance, music, food and camaraderie.  Lior Haykeen, dance extraordinaire from Los Angeles is our special guest teacher. And once again the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, the MJCC, and volunteers made the event possible. See our Facebook page Israeli Folk Dancing in Portland, OR for tons of pictures, and this website's Main Page for a full recap.

Published for June 23, 2018-Diane Betcher, with Sue Wendel June 29 updates.

Here's to Israeli dancing! See you on the dance floor!