ABOUT OUR STAFF

Lorraine Posner Arcus is nationally recognized for her work in the field of Israeli dance for children and teens as well as in Judaic curriculum for Early Childhood.  For more than thirty years Lorraine Posner Arcus has been leading Israeli dance groups, teaching Judaics to young children, and instructing others on teaching techniques. Her passion for Israeli dance was ignited in her teen years while dancing with Fred Berk in Israel and at the 92nd Street Y in New York City.  While earning her Master's degree in Special Education in 1976, Lorraine began her nationally acclaimed program of Israeli Dance at Temple Israel in Albany, NY . For over twenty years sponsorship by Temple Israel and the Board of Education of the United Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York has enabled Lorraine to encourage a recognition of Israeli Dance as an important part of Jewish culture and has resulted in the production of scores of experienced dance teachers who have, themselves, gone on to teach folk dance at their colleges and in communities around the country. As Director of Israeli Dance at Temple Israel, Albany, NY , she is also Artistic Director of Tzamarot, a 50 member teen performing group, as well as coordinator of Israeli dance classes and performing groups for teens and adults.  Author of Z'man Lirkod - A Manual for Teaching Israeli Dance, Lorraine conducts leadership training programs locally and nationally.  Lorraine teaches Judaic kindergarten at the Bet Shraga Hebrew Academy in Albany, NY.  Her book, Torah Alive!, recently published by URJ Press, is reflective of her innovative and original curriculum for young children.  Lorraine is a 2001 recipient of the prestigious Covenant Award for Outstanding Creative Jewish Educators.

Ruth Goodman began her dance studies at the Metropolitan Opera School of Ballet and the Ballet Russe School of Dance.  Involved with the annual Israel Folk Dance Festival since 1969, she succeeded Fred Berk as its director.  She is the founder and director of the Parparim Ensemble of Israeli Folk Dance and Song a versatile company that has performed for diverse audiences, holiday celebrations, regional and national events throughout the United States and Israel.  Ruth conducts workshops and seminars throughout the Americas, including teachers workshops for the Board of Jewish Education and for CAJE.  She has participated in numerous tours to Israel where she has performed, directed and observed Israeli music and dance.  Ruth is an author of the article, "Israeli Folk Dance Pioneers" published in Jewish Women in America, an Historical Encyclopedia and an editor of the international Hebrew/English publication, Rokdim-Nirkoda magazine.  She is co-director, with Danny Uziel, of the Israeli Dance Institute, a comprehensive resource and information center that offers professional guidance to teachers, community leaders, performing groups and Israeli folk dance enthusiasts, and of the Jewish Dance Division of the 92nd Street "Y," which offers a broad range of courses and special events, including a weekly Israeli folk dance session.  Ruth holds a Master of Arts degree in Dance Education from Columbia University Teachers College.

Eve Cameron