— A joint venture of the Chai Folk Arts Council Inc. and the Rose and Max Rady Jewish Community Centre

Come discover the rhythm, energy and culture of Israeli dance and music at the Lisa Cohen Chai School of Performing Arts! This year, exciting new K-12 programming will provide dance students of all ages with specialized and comprehensive training, ranging from the fundamentals of Middle Eastern movement to exposure to the rehearsal process. Singers and musicians will have the opportunity to develop both ethnic and personal style as they learn to blend traditional and contemporary harmonies.

Don’t forget to check out our brand new classes: Israeli Technique, Boys’ Israeli Dance, Rikkudim and Orchestra. All classes will be taught by trained instructors, primarily members of the Sarah Sommer Chai Folk Ensemble, and will aim to challenge students with fun and age-appropriate skills that will build upon each other in a natural progression.

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Vocal
Our goal is to begin the process of learning breath control, vocalization and tonal quality as they relate to the performance of Jewish and Israeli music.

Chai-niks (Ages 8 to 12)
The purpose of this class is to expose the children to the various styles and lay the foundation for a better understanding of Jewish music. The class will focus on the basics of music appreciation; getting used to the feel of the music, rhythms, the basics of pronunciation and articulation.

Junior Chai (Ages 13 to 16)
This class builds on the basics of Chai-Niks and focuses on both technique and style. Students will work on correct pronunciation and inflection, warm-up and projection techniques, as well as learning the stylistic differences between traditional Israeli and more exotic pieces such as Yemenite, Moroccan and more. Enrolment at this level is subject to audition; candidates will be contacted to arrange for an audition time upon receipt of their registration.

Orchestra – (Ages 12 and up)
It is a joyous occasion when musicians come together to play their instrument; it is our intent to enable them to come together to play Jewish and Israeli music. This program will provide the opportunity for young musicians to enhance their musical education by playing in a group as an important step in the growth of musicianship. There are many things to learn aside from one’s own instrument and if you are already in the process of learning your instrument of choice, you now have the chance to learn what it is like to go through a group rehearsal. This is a chance to learn what it takes to succeed in an orchestra like Chai’s, including chart reading and understanding different Jewish styles from around the world. We will introduce you to the concept of an ensemble that accompanies dancers and vocalists. Students must be able to read music and have a good handle on their own instrument. They will be contacted for an audition after registering for the program.

ISRAELI DANCE

Pre-School / Kindergarten
Discover the rhythms of Israeli dance through play and games!

Grade One
At this level, students will begin to explore the mechanics of Israeli and Yemenite movement.

Grade Two
This class will focus on the progression from foundational movements to traditional Israeli choreography.

Grade Three
Students at this level will be encouraged to sharpen their awareness of Israel’s diverse culture through exposure to world dance.

Grade Four
As students mature, they will begin to engage with the As students mature, they will begin to engage with the elements of various Israeli styles, including the building blocks of dance technique.

Grade Five/Six
At this level, emphasis will begin to be placed on the development of personal style. Students will be encouraged to express the spirit of Israeli dance through the continuation of technical and stylistic training.

Pre-Ruach
Experience the excitement of dances heralding from Morocco to Spain to the Ukraine! Some performance opportunities may be introduced at this level. Participation in Israeli technique class is strongly encouraged.

Ruach
Chai’s junior dance troupe, this dynamic group concentrates on polishing choreography for city-wide performance opportunities. The audition process is introduced at this level. Additional Israeli technique class is MANDATORY.

Israeli Technique
This class is mandatory for Ruach, strongly encouraged for Pre-Ruach and open to Grade 6 students. Grounded in classical technique, but tailored to Israeli dance, this class will provide the necessary core training for the development of Israeli ensemble dancing.

Boys Israeli Dance
Boys in Grades 1, 2 or 3 will enjoy this high-energy class taught by a male instructor!

Rikkudim
Fun with Israeli folk dances, ranging from contemporary line dances to dances evolved during the creation and building of Israel. The dances reflect an energy level, spirit and optimism unique in the Jewish cultural experience.

Download a Registration Form