Gypsy Klezmer Dance

Bohemian Nights plays for a Klezmer & Gypsy dance.

"Loads of enthusiasm, brilliant musicality." - Sue Ikin, director, Wellington Folk Festival

"Your music put everyone in a fantastic party mood." - Mary Lou Jelbart, fortyfivedownstairs

"This is lively passionate gypsy music to dance away your troubles." - Artstreams CD review

The steps and rhythms for Klezmer and Gypsy dance, led by Ernie Gruner’s irresistible fiddle playing and the delicious sounds of Bohemian Nights are made easy! Line dances, circle dances, learn as you go, for lots of fun, led by experienced caller, Audrey Fine.

This will be the 6th Klezmer Gypsy Dance at the Northcote hall. Past events included the National Folk festival, Shir Madness Jewish Music Festival, Cygnet Folk Festival, Kew Synagogue, and Moreland Community Gardening.

Bohemian Nights is Phil Carroll (accordion, vocals, ney )and Ernie Gruner (violin, mandolin, vocals ) They’ve toured New Zealand 7 times, and WA 3 times, playing their mix of Klezmer, Gypsy, European, middle-eastern and jazz. They have 2 CDs.

Add in double bass player, Ron Hansen and you get Klezmeritis. The trio released their self-titled album in 2000 with strong reviews from around the world. This dance subs in David Krycer from Klezmania.

In Melbourne, where Klezmer is much loved, key local ensembles include Klezmeritis and Klezmania. Bohemian Nights plays both Klezmer and gypsy repertoire. The musicians of Bohemian Nights are joining forces with expert dance caller Audrey Fine, who studied dance in USA. She invites audiences onto the floor to form circles or lines and leads them in the steps, to the traditional tunes.

Klezmer, originally a Hebrew word for musical instrument, is the traditional Jewish folk music of Eastern Europe. It expresses a vast range of emotion. Klezmer is the joyous dance music for weddings and celebrations, but a persistent trace of melancholy, even in those tunes, characterises its timeless appeal.

Gypsy music and dance are related to Klezmer. Some Klezmer music derives from Gypsy music. In Eastern Europe before the wars, it was not uncommon for a Gypsy band to have a Klezmer musician or two, and Klezmer bands also included gypsy players.

Ernie Gruner played with London Klezmer Quartet for their 2014 Klezmer dance. He played for previous dances with them at the National Folk Festival in Canberra. He has played with Klezmer dance bands from USA and Holland. In 1998 and 2008 Gruner studied Klezmer violin and played for dances at camps and festivals in Montreal and San Francisco. He has been at the forefront of Australia’s Klezmer revival.

Audrey Fine will call dances on the night. She has studied folk dances and calling here and overseas and was a founding member of popular band Shenanigans. She and Gruner played in one of Melbourne’s earliest gypsy bands, Zingaro at Woodford and Port Fairy Festivals around 20 years ago.