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Israeli Folk Dance Festival - Fred Berk - 6 cd's

Fred Berk
Status:   Deceased 
Specialty:   Israeli 
Range:   Israeli 

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Fred Berk, born Friedrich Berger, changed his name upon his immigration to the United States, but was affectionately known to folk dancers as "Mr. Israeli Folk Dance." Fred, a Viennese modern dancer, started the contemporary Israeli recreational dance movement in New York around 1951. He was founder and director of the Jewish Dance Division at the 92nd Street YM-YWHA in New York and was the director of the folk dance department of the American Zionist Youth Foundation, also in New York. 

From 1951, Fred directed the annual Israeli Folk Dance Festival at Lincoln Center, conducted leadership training sessionns, and directed the Israeli Folk Dance Department under the auspices of the Zionist Youth Foundation. 

He founded the first Israeli dance workshop in the United States, the Fred Berk Israeli Folk Dance Workshop, at Camp Blue Star (Hendersonville, North Carolina), in 1961 and directed it until 1977 (followed by Ya'akov Eden, Ruth Goodman, and Tuvia Abramson). Many Israeli folk dance recordings were issued under Fred's supervision. 

According to Sandy Kuttler, "After his failed operation Fred was not able to walk, let alone dance. Rather than give up, he developed a way to sit on a stool and teach others to dance." 

For a while, Fred was married to Katya Delakova, also an author of Israeli dance books. Fred died on February 26, 1980. In 1985, Judith Brin Ingber wrote a book about Fred, Victory Dances: The Story of Fred Berk, a Modern Day Jewish Dancing Master. 

Among Fred Berk's publications and dance syllabi for recordings are 

100 Israeli Folk Dances, 2nd edition. New York, American Zionist Youth Foundation, 1983. 
Chasidic Dance, The. US, Union of American Hebrew Congregations, 1975. 
Guide For the Israeli Folk Dance Teacher, American Zionist Youth Foundation, c. 1977. 
Ha-Rikud: The Jewish Dance,, UAHC Press, 1972. 
Holiday in Israel, with Lucy Venable, Dance Notation Bureau, Inc., 1977. 
Hora. (Editor.) New York: American Zionist Youth Foundation. (Israeli dance publication.) 
Jewish Dance, The. (Editor.) New York: Exposition Press, 1960. (Articles about Jewish dance.) 
Jewish Folk Dance Book. With Katya Delakova. New York: National Jewish Welfare Board, 1948. 45p. 
Mechol Ha'am: Dance of the Jewish People,, American Zionist Youth Foundation, 1978. 
Ten Folk Dances in Labanotation, with Lucy Venable, Dance Notation Bureau, Inc., 1959. 
Dance Instructions. Tikva Record T-80. 
Dances that Fred taught include Al Lidl, Al Tira, At Va'Ani, Bat Yiftach, Chassene Tanz, Chassidic Gestures, Dayagim, Debka Dayagim, Debka Druz, Debkat Habir, Dodi Li, Erev Ba, Ez Vakeves, Freilach, Harmonica, Haroa Haktana, Hine Ma Tov, Hora Medura, Keshoshana Bein Hachochim, Krakoviak, Kuma Echa, Lech Lamidbar, Ma Navu, Mamtera, Mayim Mayim, Nigun, Raquassat Es Sana, Rikud Chatuna, Shiru Hashir, Ve'David Yefe Eynaim, and Zemer Atik. 
 
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