Nostalgia comes to Melbourne


Debka Medabeket first cab off the rank...

Nostalgia folk dance classes in Israel have proven very popular. Many dancers have dropped out over the years for all sorts of reasons, not all related to dancing per se. But some who do cite contemporary dance bearing no correlation with the dances they learnt many years ago, when folk dance meant folk dance.

Nowadays, more dances are being created to music of old dances leaving "old timers" confused and a little betrayed by those who see IFD as a commodity rather than a folky pastime.

In New York, Rikuday Dor Rishon attempts to keep that initial spirit alive with regular classes, camps and workshops with visiting Israeli guests.

Here in Melbourne the Hora school is holding a night for Nostalgia dancing tonight (Sunday, Jan 8), and at its Saturday class yesterday had one of the original Melbourne teachers, Asher Elizam, teach Shmulik's Debka Medabeket (1992 - hardly not nostalgia in some eyes, but the combo of Asher and this dance brought out the nostalgia for many of us, although as the cliche goes, nostalgia's not what it used to be.)

There are quite a few video sources for the dance, but I think the only ones with Shmulik dancing it himself are Machol Europa 1992, and Chagigah 1997.

Curiously, there are no videos listed in Shmulik's own name. How wonderful it would be if he and Tibi could collaborate further to produce a DVD of Shmulik dancing his creations to set the definitive style. Even if it is in "mooltimedia"!

UPDATE (January 9, 2004): The nostalgia evening went well, especially for a warm Sunday night with a major community festival on as well. Lots of old faces who had "dropped" out returned, some just for the night, and others perhaps to get in the swing once more.

Lots of old energetic music played, but in the new tradition of just twice through. From beginners through to advanced, partners too. But no Debka Medabeket in sight.
But it did prompt some interesting discussions about what constitutes nostalgia, how IFD has changed, why some people drop out, etc. Worth doing every few months just to attract those who might be seeking a way to easily return to dance... interesting to see some people stay on the floor all night enjoying themselves, compared to the usual program where they are only occasionally active.

Posted: Sun - February 8, 2004 at 02:54 PM         |

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