Israeli Folk Dance Events
Udy Gold, together with his family promote and lead three events in the Bay Area

Tuesdays class session
Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran, Café Shalom’s Tuesday dance class has something for you. The class covers everything from the basic steps to the most advanced dances, and is perfect for anyone looking to add more Israeli folk dancing to their week. The class meets every Tuesday from 8 – 10 p.m. at St. Francis’ Episcopal Church, 399 San Fernando Way in San Francisco.

Café Saturday session
Israeli folk dancers from all over the Bay Area dance the night away at Café Shalom’s Saturday party—a monthly tradition since the 1960s! We play a wonderful mix of oldies and the latest dances based on requests. Dancers of all ages are invited to join the fun on the second Saturday of every month. The party starts at 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, 1399 Judah St. in San Francisco.

Memorial/Labor Day events
The Memorial and Labor Day Folk Dance Weekends are heavenly getaways for folk dancers, musicians, nature lovers, and campers. Come for as long or as you like to enjoy Israeli and international folk dancing and live music in the beautiful Santa Cruz mountains. These twice-yearly events are unlike any other, and simply cannot be missed.
About Israeli Folk Dance
Udy Gold facilitates/participates/helps to lead three dance events in the San Francisco Bay Area: he teaches Tuesday evening weekly classes, hosts a monthly Saturday Cafe Shalom dance party, and helps DJ at Memorial & Labor Day Land Dancers Folk Dance weekends in the La Honda area. Each event has its own unique style which caters to its individual participants. Tuesdays session are for people who would like to learn how to dance, learn each step of specific dances, and practice their dancing to the point of muscle memory - you can teach your feet to dance! Saturday sessions are much larger and are mainly for dancers who already know a few dances.
Saturday sessions include circle/line dances, couple dances, and from time to time - children’s dances. The folk dance weekend events are multi-day events, where one can come for an hour, a day, or the entire weekend. The weekends are like a family gathering, and are suitable for the entire family - including non-dancing family members. For the non-dancers there is live music, hiking trails, creek walking, or simply the wonderful opportunity to relax in nature.
Dancing is for everyone. If you tap your fingers while listening to music, you are a dancer. If you whistle music, you are a dancer. Dancing is liberating, allowing us to express the joy in our hearts through movement.
A wise person once said, “We do not stop dancing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop dancing.” Dancing is great exercise - it increases heart rate, and serves as a good cardiovascular activity. It also can become a social gathering for people to come and build community, a place to find friends and for some - the love of their lives. More than anything, dancing brings joy, and fulfillment to all who participate.
- Circle dances
- Partners/Couples dances
- Line dances
- International Dance
- Children Dances
