Yiddish Dance Summer Series

Join us for our summer series of Yiddish dance classes at The Foundry in Cambridge! This series will be led by RUACH teacher Rachel Linsky (rachellinsky.com).

Wednesdays, June 3rd - July 1st, 6:00 - 7:00 PM 

The Foundry, 101 Rogers St, Cambridge, MA 02142 

$5 in advance • $10 at the door

Come for 1 class or all 5; we’ll learn a new dance every time, so drop-ins are welcome!

We'll explore a wide range of Yiddish dance repertoire from Freylekhs and Bulgars to Zhoks, Khosidls, even some Terkishers, Kolomeykes, Sibras and Shers!  Throughout the series, we’ll have the chance to dive a little deeper into the style, variations, and stories of each dance. Most importantly, we’ll learn how our individual voices can shine inside of a shared, communal experience.

No dance experience? No problem. You don't need any prior movement background to join, and you don't need to be Jewish either! These dances are for everyone, and people of all ages and abilities are warmly welcome.

We are lucky to have a phenomenal lineup of klezmer musicians playing live for us each class:  

June 3: Nat Seelen & Michael McLaughlin 

June 10: Nat Seelen & Michael McLaughlin 

June 17: Nat Seelen & Yoona Kim 

June 24: Nat Seelen & Michael McLaughlin 

July 1: Rebecca Mac & Michael McLaughlin

This program is supported in part by a grant from Cambridge Arts, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. We are so grateful for their support! 

What is Yiddish Dance? 

Yiddish dance is an umbrella term that describes the folk dances of Ashkenazi/Eastern European Jews, performed to the vibrant sounds of Klezmer music. You'll see a lot of space for individual expression within the context of a group. Throughout the series we will work together to find that beautiful balance of taking space for your own expression with the music, while moving and sharing the experience with others.

Yiddish dance and Klezmer music also both reflect centuries of cultural exchange. While rooted in the musical modes of Ashkenazi Jews, Klezmer has absorbed influences from Eastern European, Balkan, and Ottoman traditions, and more recently, elements of Jazz and other styles here in the US. Yiddish dance and Klezmer music hold many stories and rich cultural information that depict the Ashkenazi branch of the Jewish Diaspora, and so beautifully demonstrate moments throughout our history when people of different communities have come together through celebration, music, and dance!