ASSIGNMENTS: CURRENT
- 09/23/08— Assignment #4: The Bible in Israeli Dancing
Article #3: "The Bible in Israeli Folk Dances", by Matthew Goldschmidt.
Write-Up #1: In no more than FOUR SENTENCES: Why did early choreographers use the Bible as inspiration for their dances? Why do today's choreographers NOT use the Bible as much as their predecessors (as Goldschmidt claims)? How important do you think it is to have elements of IFD inspired by Judaism? Due 11/4/08 by email to Aaron.
Questions: If you have any questions on this first assignment, please ask Aaron.
- 10/07/08— Assignment #3: Reserach
IMPORTANT: Please read this entire description. This assignment is a little different...
Question: Think of one major question (something broad) that you have about Israeli Folk Dancing.
Article: Search for an article that answers your question. If you can't find an article that directly answers your question, that's alright.
Write-Up #2: Write down your question. Include a digital copy of your article. (The whole text, please, not just a link.) Then, in MAXIMUM FOUR SENTENCES: Give a summary of your article. If it answers your question (or if you can infer an answer), what is it? Do you agree? If it doesn't answer your question, what did you learn from the article instead? Due 10/28/08 by email to Aaron.
How to Find an Article: Put those research skills to use! There are plenty of sources out there (trust me— I've got a binder full of 'em). You can certainly serach jstor or Google scholar. Also, there are some very good IFD websites maintained by teachers and choreographers. Start with www.israelidances.com and www.rokdim.co.il. Make sure you use alternate keywords, like "Israeli dance," "Jewish dancing," "recreational Israeli dance," etc. If you prefer print, try the Jewish Folklore and Ethnology Review magazine in the Doe Library. If you absolutely cannot find anything, email me, and I can help.
Grading: This assignment will be worth SIX points (other assignments are 2). Grading is as follows:
- 1 point - Question. Do you ask something significant and not immediately obvious about IFD?
- 3 points - Research. Is the article reputable, i.e. the author actually knows something about IFD (1 point)? Does it have quality content (2 points)?
- 2 points - Write-Up. Did you understand the article? Do you respond critically to it?
Questions: If you have any questions on this first assignment, please ask Aaron.
- 09/23/08— Assignment #2: What Is Israeli Dancing?
Article #2: "What Is Israeli Dancing?", from the Israeli Dance Institute in London.
Write-Up #1: In no more than FOUR SENTENCES: Give a summary of the article. What is one way IFD has changed since 1948? Right now, what is your evaluation of IFD in general? Due 10/7/08 by email to Aaron.
Questions: If you have any questions on this first assignment, please ask Aaron.
- 09/16/08— Assignment #1: Introduction
Article #1: A Brief History of Israeli Folk Dancing, by Aaron Alpert, to be read by 09/23/08
Sample Write-Up: Click this link.
Questions: If you have any questions on this first assignment, please ask Aaron.
- 09/11/08— There is no reading or writing assignment for the first day of class. Just as a heads-up, however, it is likely that next week you will be asked to read Aaron Alpert's (yes, he's one of the facilitators for this course) Brief History of Israeli Folk Dancing. This will give you an overview of IFD from the perspective of your instructors (always a good thing to know). There will be a sample write up posted based on this article.
ASSIGNMENTS: SPRING 2008
- 04/28/08— Assignment #9: Dancing in the Bay Area
Article #13: "Israeli Dances Draw Cultures Together," by Lydia Lee, to be read by 05/06/08. PLEASE NOTE: The information in this article is a bit out of date. If you're interested in more Israeli Folk Dance Opportunities in the Bay Area, please ask Aaron directly.
Write Up #9: In four sentences maximum, please describe your Israeli Folk Dancing experience this semester. How did you feel at the beginning, and how do you feel about it now? Would you consider going to an Israeli Dance evening like the one described in the article? Why? (And please, be honest! I promise that I won't be offended— no matter what you say.) Due 05/06/08 in class, or email beforehand to Aaron.
Questions: If you have any questions on this assignment, please ask Aaron.
- 04/14/08—No Assignment. Essay due 04/24/08. Submission instructions:
Final Papers are due Thurs., April 24.
Hard copies only!!! No emails!
How to submit your paper:
1. Turn it in to one of the facilitators directly on Tuesday, April 22.
2. The person sitting at the front desk at Hillel will have a red folder. Put your paper in the red folder. IMPORTANT: Hillel closes at 9 PM every night.
- 04/06/08— Assignment #8: Modernity and Israeli Folk Dance
Article #12: "Israeli Folk Dances as an Industrial Product," by Yaron Meishar, to be read by 04/15/08. I have selected this article based on the questions that some of you asked in Assignment #6, so I hope you find this interesting.
Write Up #8: In four sentences maximum, address the following questions: Which of Yaron Meishar's concerns is, in your opinon, the most critical? Why? What do you see as the cause of this problem, and do you see any possible solutions? Due 04/15/08 in class, or email beforehand to Aaron.
Questions: If you have any questions on this assignment, please ask Aaron.
- 03/31/08— Assignment #7: The Business of IFD
Article #10: "2 Worlds," by Ken Avner, to be read by 04/08/08.
Article #11: "Dassa Connects a Step-Kick at a Time," Jewish Journal, by Susan Josephs, to be read by 04/08/08. (I apologize for whatever happened to the quotation marks, but it's still readable.)
Write Up #7: In four sentences maximum, address the following questions: Do you agree with Ken Avner, and to what extent? What do you think Avner would say about Dani Dassa? What do you think Dassa would say about Avner's comments on Community vs. Business? Due 04/08/08 in class, or email beforehand to Aaron.
Questions: If you have any questions on this assignment, please ask Aaron.
ADDITIONAL INFO: If you're interested, there's a very good YouTube video about the closing of Cafe Danssa in Jan. 2007. It's optional, but if you're interested... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuMW4_uAakE. (And if you look carefully in the first 5 seconds, you might recognize the guy dancing next to Dani Dassa!)
- 03/15/08— Assignment #6: Questions
Article #9: Reviews of Judith Brin Ingber's Shorashim, by Pamela Squires and Susan L. Puretz, to be read by 04/01/08.
Write Up #6: In their reviews, Squires and Puretz mention how Ingber tackles some controversial subjects in Shorashim. As we move towards the end of the semester, we will be moving away from the history and culture behind Israeli Dance, into its challenges and its future. Think, what are some questions you have about Israeli Dancing? What things do you want to know? What are you still curious about? For this week's assignment, please submit a list of questions (maximum 4) you have about Israeli Folk Dancing. (Also, your questions will influence my choice of articles for the last 5 or so weeks.) Due 04/01/08 in class, or email beforehand to Aaron.
Questions: If you have any questions on this assignment, please ask Aaron.
- 03/03/08— Assignment #5: Shabbat
Note: This will be a longer than average assignment worth double points (4 instead of 2). However, you will have 2 weeks to complete it, and there will be no assignment given next week.
Article #6: Judaism 101: Shabbat, by Tracey R. Rich, to be read by 03/18/08. This is an introductory article on the Jewish holiday of Shabbat. If you already know what Shabbat is, you may skip reading this article.
Article #7: Dancing with the Rabbi, by Rabbi Henoch Dov Hoffman, to be read by 03/18/08. You should realize, Rabbi Hoffman is describing some practices of Kabbala, or Jewish mysticism. Please understand this is outside the mainstream of Jewish practices.
Article #8: Yemenite Dances and Their Influence on the New Israeli Folk Dances, by Gurit Kadman, to be read by 03/18/08. Gurit Kadman was one of the founders of Israeli Folk Dance. She started the first Israeli Folk Dance festival at Kibbutz Dalia in 1944.
Write Up #5: On the above articles, please compose a response (about 8 sentences). In Judaism 101, Shabbat is described as "the most important ritual observance in Judaism." What makes it so important? Is Shabbat purely a religious experience, or what else can it be? Name at least two ways Israeli Folk Dance can dance aid in the celebration of Shabbat. Oftentimes, people celebrate oneg shabbat at the conclusion of Friday night religious services, and Israeli Folk Dancing is part of the oneg. Why do you feel people choose Israeli Folk Dancing as an expression of their joy? Do you see the use of dance in traditional Yemenite communities as essentially the same, or fundamentally different than the dancing done by Israelis? Personal thoughts or connections? Due 03/18/08 in class, or email beforehand to Aaron.
Questions: If you have any questions on this assignment, please ask Aaron.
- 02/25/08— Assignment #4: Kadima! [Hebrew: Forward!]
Article #5:In Israel, Still Dancing After All These Years, by Judith Brin Ingber, to be read by 03/04/08.
Write Up #4: On the above article, In Israel... In no more than four sentences, discuss the main idea of the article, 2 supporting details, and a personal connection. Due 03/04/08 in class, or email beforehand to Aaron.
Questions: If you have any questions on this assignment, please ask Aaron.
- 02/18/08— Assignment #3: Authenticity
Article #4: Selection from: Cultural Formation in Eretz Israel: The National Dance Competion of 1937, by Nina S. Spiegel, to be read by 02/26/08. (I apologize for the poor quality of the document.)
Write Up #3: On the above article, Cultural Formation... In no more than four sentences, answer the following questions: What is "authenticity," and how important is it for folk culture? In 1937, eleven years before the existance of the state of Israel, if you had been charged with finding "genuine Israeli dance," what sources or inspiration would you have called upon? Due 02/26/08 in class, or email beforehand to Aaron.
Questions: If you have any questions on this assignment, please ask Aaron.
- 02/12/08— Assignment #2: The Debka
Articles #2 and 3: Indigenous and Imported Elements in the New Folk Dance in Israel, by Ayalah Kaufman, to be read by 02/19/08. (NOTE! I originally had this due date as 2/26, which was a typo. While you should read both articles, if your write up reflects only the Moshiko article, that will be fine. You'll get full credit anyway.)
Selection from Moshiko (Moshe Itzhak-Halevy), ed. Judith Brin Ingber (from Shorashim: The Roots of Israeli Folk Dance, issue 59 of Dance Perspectives magazine), to be read by 02/19/08
Write Up #2: On the above articles, Indigenous and Imported Elements... and Moshiko Include main idea of the article, 2 supporting details, and a personal connection. Pay particular attention to Kaufman and Moshiko's description of the debka. Due 02/19/08 in class, or email beforehand to Aaron.
Questions: If you have any questions on this assignment, please ask Aaron.
- 02/04/08— Assignment #1: Introduction
Article #1: A Brief History of Israeli Folk Dancing, by Aaron Alpert, to be read by 02/12/08
Write Up #1: On the above article, A Brief History... Include main idea of the article, 2 support details, and a personal connection. Due 02/12/08 in class.
Questions: If you have any questions on this first assignment, please ask Aaron.
- 01/29/08— There is no reading or writing assignment for the first day of class. Just as a heads-up, however, it is likely that next week you will be asked to read Aaron Alpert's (yes, he's one of the facilitators for this course) Brief History of Israeli Folk Dancing. This will give you an overview of IFD from the perspective of your instructors (always a good thing to know).
Questions or comments about this website? Ask Aaron Alpert.
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