“If a song could be an ambassador for a people, Hava Nagila would be the ambassador of the Jewish people,” says David Vamos, Vocal and Artistic Director of the Sarah Sommer Chai Folk Ensemble. “Hava Nagila is timeless. That song is joy. Pure and simple.”

Chai’s “Hava Nagila” medley will be a featured piece at the “Woven Threads” concert on June 7, 2018. The piece comprises Hava Nagila and two other high-energy Hebrew classics presented in dance, voice, and music.

Chai is also proud to present “Hora Me’uchedet”, a brand new piece celebrating life in Israel in the early years of the modern state. Vamos and Dance Director Rachel Cooper studied a recording of Horas from the 1960s and chose four songs to highlight. Vamos arranged the songs into a cohesive medley, while Cooper developed the choreography.

“The Hora is the foundation of modern Israeli folk dance and is at the core of what we do as an Israeli dance ensemble,” says Cooper, a respected dance educator in Winnipeg. “The Hora is traditionally performed in a circle. In this creation, the circle breaks apart and multiplies, and it transforms into lines that travel, curve, and snake across the stage, always returning to the traditional circle. The whole creation is a celebration representing unity and joy, while symbolizing Israel, Zionism, and the Jewish people.”

Other notable concert highlights include “Havdallah”, an artistic celebration of the ceremony that brings an end to Shabbat and welcomes the new week; “The Hour of Two Lights”, a moody medley fusing Yiddish, Gypsy punk, and modern dance styles that teaches us that the things that drive us apart can ultimately bring us together; and “Shir Yisraeli” presented by the YONA Choir and Paul Ong, a vocal sensation representing Winnipeg’s Chinese and Filipino communities.

Alongside Chai’s signature pieces throughout the show, “Woven Threads” is designed as a multicultural extravaganza celebrating diversity and friendship through music and dance. Chai is sharing the stage with the Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble—representing Winnipeg’s Ukrainian community—and there will be guest performances from the Aboriginal School of Dance, representing Winnipeg’s Indigenous community; La Troupe jeunesse de l’Ensemble folklorique de la Rivière-Rouge, representing the Franco-Manitoban community; and Magdaragat Philippines, representing Winnipeg’s Filipino community.

At “Woven Threads”, to be held at the Club Regent Event Centre, the Chai Folk Ensemble will be honouring long-time Chai supporters, Tova and Larry Vickar. Joining Chai as Honorary Co-Chairs for the event are Blair Yakimoski, MLA; Bob Freedman, former CEO of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg; David Chartrand, President of the Manitoba Métis Federation; and Dr. Rey Pagtakhan, a former federal cabinet minister. David Greaves and Howard Morry are serving as Campaign Co-Chairs.

Sponsorship opportunities for Chai’s “Woven Threads” and concert tickets are now available. Advertising opportunities in the event program are also available. Please contact Reeva Nepon at the Chai office for more information – (204) 477-7497.