IMAGE GALLERY: Boroughs JCC Offers Israeli Folk Dancing [VIDEO]

"This is one of the highs of my week. Afterwards I keep singing the songs from Thursday," Ayal Zingher told Patch. He’s one of 15 to 25 mostly transplanted Israelis who join together on Thursday nights at the Boroughs JCC (BJCC) to share the music, the steps and the memories of their native Israeli folk dancing.

According to Stephen Marmor, vice president of programming at the BJCC, "We start at 8:30 p.m. and run to about midnight. People straggle in as the night goes on." Stephen also mentioned that the Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts had supplied a grant for the program, as well as several upcoming Israeli sing-alongs and Israeli coffee houses.

BJCC member Issac (Tzahi) Nativ started the feet tapping at the BJCC. The father of Adam, a BJCC preschooler, Tzahi approached the BJCC about hiring Israeli dancing teacher Ronnie Efrat. A native of Shoham, Israel, she taught classes atCongregation Kehilat Israel in Brookline for the past 11 years. Tzahi moved from the Brookline area to Shrewsbury. He said, "I missed dancing."

Last week, Tzahi was joined by his wife, and daughter. Tzahi moved with grace and obvious memory.

Israeli K’fir Mizrahi, a dancer/DJ/photographer/videographer who recently moved to the U.S. from Jerusalem, joins instructor Ronnie in teaching. Ronnie commented, "For each song there are specific steps. There is no improvising. It's fun. Some dances are done in a circle or as couples or in lines. We even adapt a lot to Latin and American music."

The crowd on Thursday night was made up of locals, mostly from Southborough, Marlborough, Westborough and Framingham. On some nights, people travel from as far as Rhode Island and Brookline to join the group.

Southborough resident Shiri Jackman, originally from Reovot, Israel explains, "This is a beginning class. There are other options for Israeli dancing, but I come because of Ronnie and this wonderful place. I love the JCC."

Two newcomers joined the group on Thursday night. Shahar Peleg from Moshav Ram-On, and Inbar Cohen from Kiryat Tivon just arrived in the area as young emissaries from the Jewish Agency for Israel. Inbar explained, "We have just graduated from college, and have postponed out military service for one year while we work here for the Jewish community." Both Shahar and Inbar are dancers, having studied ballet, modern, jazz, and of course, Israeli folk dancing.

There were two brave non-Israeli dancers: EJ Dotts, an active member of Beth Tikvah Synagogue, and Julia O'Neil-Welch, program coordinator of the BJCC. EJ commented on a specific song, "I can't do this one. There's too much spinning."

Give it a Try

If you're interested in learning more about Ronnie and K'fir's classes, the BJCC has set-up a Facebook page to take you up-close and personal with Israeli dancing. The site includes instructional videos, so you can practice the steps before you jump into the circle.

The class schedule is always listed on the BJCC's website. Donations of $5 and snacks are appreciated.

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