The Vancouver Israeli Folk Dance Society hosted their annual BeLev Echad Workshop at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver May 23-25. The society is holding an open house on Sept. 10 for anyone interested in seeing what Israeli dance is all about. (photo from VIFS)
The Vancouver Israeli Folk Dance Society (VIFS) hosted their annual BeLev Echad Workshop at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver May 23-25. With a spring theme and the Dance with One Heart slogan, VIFS welcomed more than 100 dancers from at least 12 different cities from all over the world, as far east as Italy and as far south as Costa Rica. This year’s guest choreographers/teachers were Tamir Shalev from Israel, on his first visit to Vancouver, and Marcelo Marianoff from Argentina – on his fifth consecutive visit.
The weekend started with a Shabbat dinner catered by Nava Creative Kosher Cuisine, followed by a dance party that only wrapped up at 1 a.m. Saturday was devoted to teaching and dancing, meeting new friends and catching up with old acquaintances, and even trying one’s hand at a 1,000-piece puzzle. Attendees could choose between a more relaxed-paced room or the main auditorium for more advanced dancers. Both circle and couple dances were taught. The evening session began with games of balloon pickle ball, and there was a caricaturist artist on site as well. After Havdalah, the dance party began with line dances, circle and couple dances. The hardiest and most energetic dancers continued dancing until 2 a.m.! On Sunday morning, dancers once more gathered for some new learning and a review of all the dances introduced over the weekend.
The event was sponsored by the Snider Foundation, the Lorna Donner Fund, the JCC and the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver. It could not have been as great a success as it was without all of those who organized and led it. Many thanks to the wonderful volunteer helpers throughout the weekend. Planning for next year’s workshop is already underway: mark May 29-31, 2026, on your calendar.
VIFS is an inclusive and welcoming community where people of all ages, background and abilities come together to explore and nurture a deep love for Israeli dance and music. On Wednesday, Sept. 10, the society will hold its annual open house, and all those who are interested are encouraged to come and see what Israeli dance is all about.
On Oct. 22, VIFS starts its next season of Beginner’s 1, where new dancers and those who may want a refresher course can learn the basics and start to learn the repertoire. The intermediate class season will also begin on this date, and it will help incorporate dancers into the larger group, as well as teach more of the repertoire. This will be followed by an open session, which combines circles and couples, teaching the newer dances that are currently circulating. There will also be a Monday afternoon session that is only circles, and is devoted to dancing and teaching older repertoire that may not have been danced for many years.
Everyone is welcome to any of VIFS’s sessions – no dance experience is necessary, just a smile and lots of enthusiasm. For more information, contact Pam at 604-839-3931, Nona at 778-834-3488 or Yael at 604-993-0223; or visit vancouverisraelidance.com.
– Courtesy Vancouver Israeli Folk Dance Society