Sarah Myerson and Ilya Shneyveys
Studio 112W

Does klezmer music make you want to move your body to the beat? With renowned Yiddish dance leader Sarah Myerson (NYC), we'll learn to dance a variety of Yiddish repertoire: freylekhs, bulgars, zhoks, and much more! We'll dance in circles, we'll dance in lines, we'll dance in squares, and maybe even in other shapes and patterns. This class is open to all, including those who have never danced Yiddish before. Musicians in particular are highly encouraged to participate; learning to dance will give you a deeper understanding of klezmer music. Advanced musicians (familiar with klezmer music and proficient sight-readers) are invited to play in the band for the dancers directed by international klezmer touring artist Ilya Shneyveys (Latvia/NYC). Chairs will be available for those who need them, as well as other accessibility modifications. Lomir tantsn - let's dance!

Daniel Lentz
Studio 205W

Join fiddler Daniel Lentz from Di Bayke Klezmer Band as we explore how to make the Yiddish voice resonate through our ears, our bodies, our voices, our imaginations, and lastly our instruments. In this two-day workshop (feel free to come for one day as well), we'll take a deep dive into one or two traditional tunes emphasizing style, phrasing, and accompaniment. Workshop participants will get to perform together at the Sunday evening tantshoyz in a low-pressure, community-centered chance to share what we’ve learned and celebrate making music together. Open to musicians of all levels with at least a basic grasp of their instrument (familiarity with some scales and ability to find note names on your instrument will help to get the most out of this class). No stands or sheet music needed - we’ll learn by ear (the traditional way). Loud instruments please bring a mute. Chairs will be provided as well as a place to store your instrument if you'd like to stick around for the evening activities.

Sarah Larsson
Sunroom

Tumbalalaika, Oyfn Pripetchik, a Yiddishe Mama — for many of us, these songs are the only points of Yiddish culture we’ve been exposed to. It’s Bubbe’s favorite song; it’s in a film soundtrack... but what are the histories behind these “chestnuts”? What are the stories of Jewish experience that inspired their popularity?

You don’t need to know any Yiddish language or any songs in advance - we will sing the songs together in this all-ages workshop. Seated workshop.

Miri Villerius
Sunroom

What is the point of bearing witness (eydes zayn)? What power do we hold as Midwest Jews? Our responsibility in the current moment is clear: we cannot and must not stop dreaming radically of what a community can be — beyond borders, beyond institutions, beyond social media slop, and beyond conformity. Join cultural critic and southsider Miri Villerius for a talk exploring counterintuitive and very intuitive ideas and lessons from Yiddishland and the Midwest to push culture forward amidst despair.

Eliana Durnbaugh, Hannah Mackenzie-Margulies, and Ilya Shneyveys
Studio 112W

What makes Yiddish dance Yiddish? It’s not an easy question (spoiler alert: we don’t have an easy answer ourselves)! In this class, we’ll explore core Yiddish dance style and intention through solo gesture and expand our Yiddish dance horizons by learning repertoire from a variety of time periods and geographies. We’ll also create a new dance, joining a long tradition of dance-making across the Yiddish-speaking world. Local Yiddish dance leaders Eliana Durnbaugh and Hannah Mackenzie-Margulies will guide us through some solo dance (in a low-pressure, supportive environment), and in a circle. No experience necessary! Advanced musicians (familiar with klezmer music and proficient sight-readers) are invited to play in the band for the dancers directed by international klezmer touring artist Ilya Shneyveys (Latvia/NYC). Chairs will be available for those who need them, as well as other accessibility modifications.

Daniel Lentz
Studio 205W

Join fiddler Daniel Lentz from Di Bayke Klezmer Band as we explore how to make the Yiddish voice resonate through our ears, our bodies, our voices, our imaginations, and lastly our instruments. In this two-day workshop (feel free to come for one day as well), we'll take a deep dive into one or two traditional tunes emphasizing style, phrasing, and accompaniment. Workshop participants will get to perform together at the Sunday evening tantshoyz in a low-pressure, community-centered chance to share what we’ve learned and celebrate making music together. Open to musicians of all levels with at least a basic grasp of their instrument (familiarity with some scales and ability to find note names on your instrument will help to get the most out of this class). No stands or sheet music needed - we’ll learn by ear (the traditional way). Loud instruments please bring a mute. Chairs will be provided as well as a place to store your instrument if you'd like to stick around for the evening activities.

Noam Sienna
Studio 105W

Learn about the role of letterpress printing as a tool of historical Yiddish community-building, resistance, and survival. Combining storytelling with an interactive demonstration by printer and visual artist Noam Sienna, you'll get to handle vintage Yiddish fonts, explore the history of Jewish printing across the world and here in Minnesota, and press your own postcard expressing solidarity with our Twin Cities neighbors. No prior experience or knowledge of the Hebrew alphabet is required.

If you’re not able to attend the full workshop, you’re still welcome to stop by and press your own postcard to take home during the break between the workshop and the evening concert, from 5:30-6:30 PM. 

Seated workshop except for voluntary press operation which can be operated while standing or from a wheelchair.

Noam Sienna
Studio 105W

In-between the workshops and evening tantshoyz, the printing press will stay open so you can print your own Yiddish poster expressing solidarity with our Twin Cities neighbors.