Penny Brichta's program

Penny Brichta

Penny Brichta has been an avid Israeli dancer since college, spending her junior year at Hebrew University in Jerusalem dancing far more than studying. She has attended dance workshops in the US and abroad, learning from the top choreographers in Israeli dance. She performed with Nitzanim, Chicago's premier Israeli Folk Dance Troupe for many years. Penny has been teaching the beginner's session at the popular Chicago Israeli Dance group for 30 years, currently on Zoom. She is a regular teacher at the Door County Folk Dance Festival and has taught Israeli dance at Madison Folk Ball, June Camp, and at Mainewoods Camp. Since her recent retirement from the corporate world, Penny has obtained certifications in Group Fitness instruction thru ACE, Silver Sneakers, Barre Connect, and Jazzercise and teaches multiple fitness classes each week.

Penny taught Friday at 3 p.m. CT, Saturday at 3:30 p.m. CT, and reviewed Sunday at 11 a.m. CT.

Penny's materials -- music, dance notes, and videos -- are available for a $40 donation.

Penny Brichta presented a wonderful mix of Israeli dances, varying in style, tempo, and level of complexity. They ranged from slow and flowing simple dances to faster and more upbeat multi-figure dance, with variety to please everyone. The dances are choreographed by four popular Israeli choreographers.

Penny’s program:

• Avak Hadrachim (The Dusty Road), Shmulik Gov Ari, 2016 - a beautiful slow waltz, referring to the moon, seen throughout the dance motif

• Barbarim (Barbarians), Dudu Barzilay, 2020 - an energetic, upbeat dance to a drinking song

• Hayom Hazeh (This Day), Gadi Bitton, 2002 – a slow, flowing dance to hopeful words towards moving forward in life

• Ma Asita Bachayim (What Did You Do in Life), Shmulik Gov Ari, 2017 – a fun dance with a strong rhythm

• Od Yavo Shalom Alenu (Peace Will Yet Come to Us), Shmulik Gov Ari, 1998 – an upbeat dance that begins slowly and increases in tempo, with lyrics symbolizing a call for peace and end to the Arab-Israeli conflict, with music by a group of Jews and Arabs

• Tene (A Basket), Avner Naim, 2000 – a dance with sweet lyrics and melody