Travel Journal
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June 27th - July 3rd
Friday July 2, 2004 Tel Aviv 2:00pm
Last evening I drove out to Ra'anana's Metro Gym, Shalom Amar's
z"l old session (now Yom-Tov Ochayon) for a special memorial
tribute to Shalom. I didn't know what to expect (well except lots of
talking!) But I must admit that they did an amazing job
remembering a very special member of the old guard of Israeli
Dance. For those who do not know, Shalom passed away in April
after a long struggle with cancer. At the memorial last night the
who's who of the vanguard of dancing where there. Some who I
know (or at least recognized) Moshe Telem, Sa'adia Amishai,
Eliyahu Gamliel, Moshiko Halevy, Yankele Levy, Mishael Barzilay,
Shlomo Maman and others who unfortunately I do not know (nor did I
feel right inquiring about them last night). From the younger
generation I saw Roni Siman-Tov, Eli Ronen and heard that Levi
Bar-Gil was there as well!
The program was hosted by Yom-Tov Ochayon, who despite his own
personal tragedy of the loss of his nephew, Afik (3yrs old), who was
senselessly killed by rocket fire this week. The schools in Ra'anana
that Shalom taught dancing to performed a few dances in his honor.
Then Nili Etzioni, his life partner (and choreographer of Ata Totach
which she choreographed in his honor) spoke about him as did his
daughters. A woman sang and a couple danced Shalom's Slichot
and Shlomo Maman's performing group from Beer Sheva did a
tribute medley of Shalom's dances. Then the old friends of his; who
I mentioned before, did something very special. Apparently before
Shalom passed on, this group of friends came to his house and
threw him a party, and last night they recreated some of that
evening for us! It was very unique and very personal with all of
them singing, playing instruments and just celebrating life! And
then just to add a touch whimsy some of those same old timers got
up and danced Shalom Amar's HaFanana line dance...what a sight to
see people like Mishael, Shlomo Maman, Yankele Levy, Sa'adia
Amishai and Moshe Telem dancing a line dance (I never want to
hear the argument that only YOUNG PEOPLE do line dances!)
After the Tribute was done, a bit of shmusing was going on while
they where setting up for the Harkada. Mishael ran a nostalgia
session of sorts since there where so many choreographers there.
Moshiko taught a dance at around 11pm at which point I left since I
had promised to make an appearance at the University to see Edo
teach his dance (I missed it anyways!)
The University session was a bit less crowded than last week
mainly do, I think, to the Semi-Final game between the Czech
Republic and Greece (who shocked everyone by winning in
overtime) in the Euro soccer (football) tournament. Sunday's
sessions all over shall be smaller due to the final game between
Portugal and Greece!
After dancing we again went out to eat and got home at 3:30 in the
morning! It's a good thing that I don't have to work! :o)
Today I am going to the beach with Ilana V. and possibly some of
the Barzilays, then to Shabbat dinner with some friends in Hod
Hasharon (more non-dancers!!!! :o)
SO Shabbat Shalom to everyone! :o)
Thursday July 1, 2004 Tel Aviv 6:30pm
So after leaving you yesterday I ran into Pahzeet in Tel Aviv (the day
before I ran into Mishael on the street!) We hung out and ended up
not going to dance but having the BEST SHNITZEL IN TEL AVIV!
Then then stayed out till late talking!
Today I spend time at the beach and relaxed! Alana woke up
around lunch time and we went out to eat Borekas and had some ice
cream! Now I'm about to go back to the apartment and after a quick
change drop Alana and Edo off at the University (he is teaching his
new partners dance, Hatchala Chadash, there tonight. I am going to
go to Ra'anana to a special Memorial Session for Shalom Amar z"l
and then back to the University! Till tomorrow...neshikot mi Israel!
Wednesday June 30, 2004 Tel Aviv 7:45pm
When I last left you yesterday I told you I was picking up Alana G.
She had just spend a week with a Birthright trip and was just dying
to go dancing (apparently they kept the kids on a tight leash and
she couldn't even go to dance Saturday morning on the Tayelet in
Tel Aviv even though they went to the beach nearby!) So off we
went to Beit Dani to dance at Gadi's session. The session was
rather small (I was told that it was half the size of last weeks!) Once
again Ayelet, Mira, Edo, Meliss, Ilana V., Mickey and Shoshana (Alex
Huber went back to NY yesterday) were there. It was still a nice
session and afterwards we went to eat in Tel Aviv!
Today was a quiet day so far, just had lunch with a friend
(non-dancer...yes they DO exist!), but am planning on going to a
special party tonight near Tel Aviv that Dudu is running and the
singer Ron Shoval (of Michaela fame is going to be there!) I haven't
figured out all the details...but check back tomorrow! :o)
Also, I posted some more pictures....ENJOY!
Tuesday June 29, 2004 Tel Aviv 6:40pm
So yesterdays plans didn't quite work out as planned...Meliss and I
DID manage to have dinner on the Tayelet. We stuffed ourselves
and had great conversation that lasted a bit longer (gossiping about
dancing does that!) Afterwards Pahzeet joined us and Meliss went
off with a friend!
So Pahzeet and I went to move the car and lo and behold...it was
GONE! Well too make a long story short, the car was towed and till
we found...well just as we were settling in to have a chat when we
had a visitor...A HUGE ROACH! Well needless to say, it became a
long night!
This morning we went to the beach, had a great lunch at Orna &
Ella, and now I'm sitting with Pahzeet and Ilana V. at The Coffee
Bean on Ibn Gvirol. This evening I'm picking up Alana G. (from
Texas formerly of Rochester) and we are going dancing at Beit Dani
with Gadi Bitton. Will try to catch you up tomorrow! Till then, happy
dancing and playing! :o)
Monday June 28, 2004 Tel Aviv 6:20pm
Yesterday was lots of fun! I took Pahzeet to my favorite hair stylist
here in Israel and she has a beautiful new hair style. After that a
long walk on the beach before a mad rush to go dancing in Gan
Shmuel with Yaron Carmel! We got there around 10pm and were
met by Howie, Aliza, Mickey, Shoshana and Alex (the Huber Clan),
Meliss, Ayelet and her daughter Mira and Edo from California. We
had a great time and danced till after 1am. Afterwards we went out
to eat Burekas and returned back to Tel Aviv around 4am (OK so we
got a bit lost trying to find Meliss's house!) I am meeting Meliss for
dinner and then going dancing at Hadar Yosef at Yankele Ziv's with
Ilana V. from New York who arrived this morning!
Will write all that is in my hand written diary tomorrow!
In the meantime, I have posted a picture of Dudu and Odelia
Barzilay's daughter Ma'ayan! She was born on Yom Ha'atzma'ut!!!
Enjoy!
Sunday June 27, 2004 Tel Aviv
The drive to Ashdod was nice...I missed the Motzei Shabbat traffic!I
I had dinner with Avi Levy and his wife Leital! We even made a
short appearance at the dance session outside by the beach! That
session is amazing when the lines start because children come from
everywhere (I swear it's like an locust invasion!) So much fun and
energy!!!
Now I am back in Tel Aviv and just sitting by the beach! Planning on
dancing at Gan Shmuel with Yaron Carmel tomorrow!