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Camp Nirkoda Ba’Kerem 2021
December 16, 2021 - December 19, 2021
$450 – $680
Israeli dance camp and wine tasting adventure
Directed by Aaron Alpert
With phenomenal teachers Michael Barzelai and Yaron Elfasy from Israel.
Set in the lush landscape of a private ranch, Nirkoda Ba’Kerem is all about community. Come join your friends — some you’ve known for years, and some you’ve yet to meet — for a fun-filled weekend of nonstop Israeli dancing located at the beautiful Wonder Valley. We’ll enjoy the benefits of California’s famous vineyards by incorporating a wine tasting adventure during the camp! Excellent wine and fantastic Israeli Dancing—what could be better?! Don’t miss it!
Featuring
- Friendly atmosphere that focuses on connection and community
- Learn new dances, attend specialty sessions, dance ’til morning!
- One-of-a-kind wine tasting curated by our camp sommelier
- Gourmet food, with special attention to your dietary needs
- Relaxing setting with beautiful accommodations at various tiers to meet your comfort and cost preferences
Food
The prices include all meals (Thursday dinner to Sunday breakfast) and snacks. Meals are kosher-style (no pork, no mixed meat / milk, no shellfish). The camp can accommodate most dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, lactose-free). For those requiring certified kosher meals, that can be arranged for a surcharge. Ask the registration team about kosher menus and pricing.
Events
Access to all Israeli dance and other camp activities (games, Shabbat services, etc.) is included.
Accommodations
We also include linens, daily towel exchange, and hotel-like amenities (soap, shampoo). For those in the hotels, there is also a Keurig and mini-fridge.
Wine Tasting
All levels include our signature wine tasting experience. Camp Nirkoda Ba’Kerem’s wine experts have chosen several local vintages for you to sample as our sommelier helps you to identify the subtle flavors of each wine. For those participants who do not drink, we will have a simultaneous fancy non-alcoholic beverage tasting. All dancers have the opportunity to evaluate their favorites and to enjoy the hors d’oeuvres selected for their harmonious pairing with the wines.
Meet the Staff
Michael Barzelai has created some of the most popular dances in the last couple of years — Normali, Aneni, Resisim, Be’chayai, Yahalomim, Shneinu, La Trompeta, Ha’or Min Heharim, and many others. Despite being only 30, Michael has a vast repertoire, both new and old, Ashkenazi and Mizrachi, popular and obscure. Beyond his fantastic choreography and dancing, he’s just incredibly friendly and boundlessly energetic, and we are so excited that he will be part of our Ba’Kerem community this year!
Yaron Elfasy is the choreographer of dances including Mor Ve’Kinamon, Eich Efshar Shelo, Ohev Lihiyot Ba’bayit, and Kanfe Ha’ruach. He can do it all: circles, partners, and yes, lines! He spends the summers teaching dance to the kids at Camp Szarvas in Hungary, always with a big smile and tons of ruach. Yaron is part of an Israeli dance dynasty; his four children are all dancers, and his father was the legendary Moti Elfasy, creator of El Ha’derech, Al Kanfe Ha’kesev, Lo Na’atzor, and more.
Latishya Steele returns as our Mistress of the Computer, our Granter of Requests, our Voice Upon the Microphone — in other words, our incomparable DJ. She will keep you on your feet all night long — and well into the morning! Latishya started her dancing career in Boston and Chicago, and she is now one of the Bay Area’s favorite teachers and programmers, with an incredibly deep repertoire and a talent for keeping the party going.
Aaron Alpert is your camp director and host for the weekend. His main job is to ensure that you’re having an awesome time! He’s been teaching, running sessions, and organizing workshops in the Bay Area for 12 years. Along with Latishya, he runs Nirkoda Le’Chayim every Thursday in Palo Alto. Let him know if there’s anything that can make your camp experience better.
Accommodations
| Housing Level | Regular |
|---|---|
| Student (details) Up to age 25, in dorms of up to 10 people (same sex), individuals only |
$360 |
| Dorm (details) Up to 10 people (same sex), dorm style bathroom, individuals only |
$450 |
| Basic Hotel — double (details) Two people, private bath, individuals or two couples with prior arrangement, slightly older and smaller than the Deluxe Hotel |
$630 |
| Deluxe Hotel — quad (details) Four people, private bath, individuals or two couples with prior arrangement, recently remodeled, beautifully appointed with modern furniture |
$570 |
| Deluxe Hotel — double (details) Two people, private bath, individuals or couples, recently remodeled, beautifully appointed with modern furniture |
$680 |
Registration
All participants must provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination in order to attend. We hope that masks will be optional, but we will rely on state and county rules at the time of camp. We do not anticipate any other pandemic-related modifications, and we plan to have partner dancing. If the situation changes, we will follow guidance from the state and county. Read more…
Contact registration@nirkoda.com for answers to any questions.
Related Events
Federation members can add or update their upcoming dance events to the calendar by sending event details to events@folkdance.com