The Joy of Jewish Music and Dance
Join our October-May monthly series celebrating The Joy of Jewish Music and Dance! Great for musicians, dancers, and enthusiasts to meet, schmooze, or simply to take in the beauty of these rich traditions. Bring your instruments and dancing shoes.
NEW LOCATION: Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA
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Session format: During the first 90 minutes, participants choose between instruction in music or dance corresponding to the music. Then after a short break, musicians and dancers are brought together to perform what they’ve learned. Extra time after that continues the dance party or shifts into informal jam or instruction.
Basic instrumental proficiency is recommended for musicians. All instruments, singers, and dancers are welcome.
Registration is $25 – $54 sliding scale, which may be purchased in advance for faster check in, or at the door.
Kids 18 and under can attend free.
No one turned away for lack of funds. Arrange volunteer/trade or reduced price entry in advance, or with the person at the door.
Additional donations are welcome to help sustain, grow, and cover the cost of this series. Additional donations would help cover travel costs of out of town instructors and many costs that are currently offset by donations. Donate here and please select “Joy of Jewish Music and Dance” in the dropdown menu.
The series is made possible by volunteer time and expertise of organizers Mike Perlmutter, Zina Pozen, and Bruce Bierman, as well as the financial support of Noah Youngs and other generous individuals, fiscal sponsorship and support by KlezCalifornia. We are grateful to our past host Sarah Wolfman-Robichaud and the JCC East Bay, and to our new hosts at Congregation Netivot Shalom.
Instructor Information
Mike Perlmutter has been performing klezmer, Balkan, and ceremonial Jewish music on clarinet and saxophone for over twenty-five years. He currently leads Saul Goodman’s Klezmer Band and also coaches the Kehilla Klezmer Band. Mike organizes the Joy of Jewish Music and Dance series as well as other events in the community. He served four years on the Board of Directors for KlezCalifornia.
The Kehilla Klezmer Band features members of Kehilla Community Synagogue of Piedmont (right on the border with Oakland), California. Members of Saul Goodman’s Klezmer Band have been collaborating with Kehilla since 2017. The collaboration culminates each year with a Simchat Torah dance party.
Bruce Bierman is a celebrated Jewish dance leader and maven known for his joyful, inclusive, and whimsical approach to teaching. With warmth, humor, and a deep love of tradition, Bruce gets everyone on the dance floor—circling, spiraling, and connecting through dances rooted in Yemenite, Mizrachi, Chasidic, Sephardic, Klezmer and classic Israeli traditions. His transformative dance workshops have brought communities together across the West Coast, inviting dancers of all backgrounds to rediscover the ecstasy and soul at the heart of Jewish culture. Where there is Bruce, there is truly a party—and an unforgettable experience of movement, music, and connection.