Dance, Folk Style : Foreign Flair, Exuberance and Fluidity Mark These Steps

What’s a folk dancer in the San Fernando Valley to do? On the other side of the hill, nightclubs like Cafe Danssa cater to folk dance crowds. But Valley cabarets such as Zorba’s and the Intersection closed years ago. Nonetheless, Valley enthusiasts can partake of their favorite hobby every day--mornings, afternoons and evenings--at community centers, temples, dance studios and college campuses.

Many of the classes feature Israeli dances. Haim Livne, who has been teaching for 19 years, leads classes at 7:30 p.m. Sundays and 8 p.m. Wednesdays at Los Angeles Valley College in Van Nuys. Many of the steps are simple and fluid, giving dancers the impression of gliding across the floor in time with exuberant music. Livne frequently plays contemporary, secular songs that, like the dances, have an international flavor. There are, he said, similarities between the dances he teaches and dances from the Soviet Union, Yemen and Turkey, among others.

Many folk dances have their origins in magic and religious rituals dating back several centuries. Over the years, other influences also have come into play--occupational-related movements, regional styles and dance forms derived from recreational activities.

For some, folk dancing provides participants an opportunity to get in touch with their roots. Others, such as recently divorced Josh Rohn, 38, of Sepulveda, are “looking for a wife.”

“It’s easier to meet women here than in most places. You can be casual, and you don’t have to put on a show,” said Rohn, who takes Livne’s Sunday class.

Neither David Sameyah nor Karen Shoff were looking for a mate when they signed up for Livne’s class a year ago. Nonetheless, six months ago a romance blossomed between them, and both hope it will lead to marriage.

“I came for the dancing, not to meet someone,” said Shoff, of North Hollywood. “But I’m happy we met here.”

Miriam Beharusch of Los Angeles and her friends signed up for Livne’s dances strictly for the exercise. “Our husbands don’t like to dance, so it’s our night on the town,” she said. “We come here to dance. That’s all.”

Livne will teach a two-hour class at Pierce College on Tuesdays starting Feb. 23. The two-hour classes will begin at 7:30 p.m.

David Paletz has been teaching Israeli dance on Tuesdays nights at the Arthur Murray Studios in Van Nuys since 1983. Paletz begins formal instruction about 8:30 p.m.; after that, everyone dances until about 1:30 a.m.

Israel Yakovee of Northridge leads an intermediate/advanced class in Israeli dance at the Valley Cities Jewish Community Center in Van Nuys on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. A professional dancer and choreographer, Yakovee emigrated from Israel more than 20 years ago. Dancing “keeps me in touch with my heritage and roots,” she said. “And it’s a way for me to bring education in the back door. It’s an excellent form of exercise, too. The intensity is almost as good as aerobics.”

Yakovee also teaches a class Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. at Temple Emet in Woodland Hills.

The Valley is also home to a variety of international folk dance classes. A group called Haverim, which was started 30 years ago, now meets on Monday nights at the Valley Cities Jewish Community Center in Van Nuys. A beginning-level class starts at 7 p.m. and is followed by a one-hour intermediate class at 8 p.m., which in turn is followed by recreational dancing.

Among the countries represented in the Haverim dance repertoire are Rumania, Yugoslavia, Israel, Greece, Bulgaria, the Soviet Union, China, Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Scotland and England. Instructor Anne Epinette Tiber says new dances from other countries are constantly being added.

Epinette Tiber holds the classes at Valley Cities with her husband, Norm. The couple--introduced by mutual folk-dancing friends--also teach classes Mondays and Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m. at the North Hollywood Senior Citizen Center.

Hooked on Dancing

After reading a brochure on folk dancing offered at Los Angeles Valley College 10 years ago, Epinette Tiber took a class and embraced the dance style enthusiastically. “For two months I couldn’t get enough of it,” she said. “I danced every night of the week.”

She stays with folk dancing because it is an easy way to meet people. “And it’s the grandest therapy,” she said. “All doctors should recommend it. You have the music and you have to concentrate on the steps--it takes your mind off of your problems. It’s so uplifting.”

The ages of participants varies, but Epinette Tiber said her groups tend to attract dancers 50 and older. Anne Newman, 77, of Sherman Oaks who, on the average dances four times a week, started with Haverim five years ago. “I’m a late bloomer,” she said. “I was lonesome and this gave me something to do that made me feel good.” Last year when Newman broke her hip, she said folk dancing inspired her to get well. “It gave me something to look forward to.”

Trudy Bronson, who teaches folk dancing at the Reseda Senior Citizen Center on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m., has people in her class who are 90. “You should see some of them,” she said. “You’d be surprised at what they can do.”

At West Valley Folk Dancers, a cooperative formed in 1960, members volunteer to teach classes. There is recreational dancing at 7:30 p.m. Fridays at the Woodland Hills Recreation Center.

When his wife introduced him to folk dancing about 18 years ago, co-op President Fred O’Brien said he was a bit uneasy. “I was hesitant at first,” he said. “But after I took a few classes, I was hooked.” Since then, he and Helga, his wife of 31 years, have been dancing together. “It’s given us a mutual interest over the years that I suppose has helped our marriage. Well, it certainly doesn’t hurt--although every once and a while we have an argument over how a dance is done,” O’Brien said.

For those who have been dancing many years--such as 70-year-old Dave Karp, a Haverim folk dancer since the group’s inception--it has become a way of life. “If someone wants to dance but they’re afraid to start, I’d tell them to just jump in. You’ll soon forget your shyness. I did,” he said, before kicking up his heels and dashing back to the dance floor.

Here Are Some Other Choices for Folk Dancing

Israeli and international folk dance classes also meet at the following locations:

Israeli folk dancing. University of Judaism, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel-Air (213-476-9777). Intermediate class: Mondays 9:30-10:30 a.m.; aerobic Israeli dance: Mondays 10:30-11:30 a.m.; beginning class: Mondays noon-1 p.m.; children’s class: Mondays 3:45-4:45 p.m., and open dancing: Wednesdays 7:30-10:30 p.m.

West Valley Jewish Community Center, 22622 Vanowen St., Canoga Park (818-346-3003). Tuesdays 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Adat Ari El, 5540 Laurel Canyon Blvd., North Hollywood (818-766-9426). Tuesdays 7:30-9 p.m.

Valley Beth Shalom, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino (818-788-6000). Wednesdays 8:40-9:40 p.m.

Stephen S. Wise Temple, 15500 Stephen S. Wise Drive, Bel-Air (818-788-4778). Friday dances begin about 10 p.m. following services.

International folk dancing. Scottish country dance, Los Angeles Valley College Field House, 5800 Fulton Ave., Van Nuys (818-988-3911). Mondays 8-10 p.m.

Greek-international dance at Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills (818- 719-6425). Mondays 7:30-9:30 p.m.

International dance with the Conejo Valley Folk Dancers at Conejo School, 280 Conejo School Road, Thousand Oaks (contact Gene Lovejoy at 805-498-2491). Mondays 7:30-10 p.m.

Armenian folk dance at St. Peter’s Apostolic Church, 17231 Sherman Way, Van Nuys (818- 344-4860). Tuesdays 7:30-9 p.m.

Armenian folk dance at Ferrahian High School, 5300 White Oak Ave., Encino (contact Tom Bozigian at 213-467-6341). Tuesdays 6:30-9:30 p.m.

International folk dance at West Valley Jewish Community Center, 22622 Vanowen St., Canoga Park (818-346-3003). Wednesdays 10 a.m.-noon.

Armenian folk dance at AGBU Armenian School, 6844 Oakdale Ave., Canoga Park (contact Tom Bozigian at 213-467-6341). Wednesdays 7-10 p.m.

International folk dance at Valley Cities Jewish Community Center, 13164 Burbank Blvd., Van Nuys (818-786-6310). Thursdays 10-11:30 a.m.

Greek folk dance at Los Angeles Valley College, 5800 Fulton Ave., Van Nuys (818-988-3911). beginning class, Thursdays 1-2 p.m.; intermediate class, Thursdays 2-3 p.m.

Spanish flamenco dance at Los Angeles Valley College, 5800 Fulton Ave., Van Nuys (818-988- 3911). Saturdays noon-1 p.m.

Folk Dance Scene, a Woodland Hills magazine, includes a more comprehensive list of folk dances clubs in Southern California (213-385-7944).