Bringing all the folk together

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/11/2015 (3850 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Blending the traditional and the cutting edge, contemporary klezmer music and Israeli and Ukrainian folk dancing, a unique production is about to debut in Transcona.

The Sarah Sommer Chai Folk Ensemble’s latest production, Meridian, promises all that and more when it takes to the stage at the Club Regent Events Centre (1425 Regent Ave. W) on Tues., Nov. 17.

“This is a really exciting performance,” said Sarah Sommer, the 23-year-old vocal director of the Chai Folk Ensemble, and granddaughter of the group’s founder. “It’s a little different than our traditional repertoire.”

Meridian brings together the Winnipeg’s Chai Folk Ensemble, Verba Ukrainian Dance Company, contemporary klezmer band The Black Sea Station and Israeli choreographer Shai Gottesman for a truly unique production. All the parties came together in the fall of last year, realizing they could create something special. The result is Meridian, a blend of world music — Eastern European, primarily, but drawing influence from around the world — Jewish and Israeli folk traditions.

“It’s an amazing combination, live singing, music, and dancing,” Gottesman said shortly after arriving in Winnipeg from Jerusalem to prepare for the big event.

A choreographer with an international reputation, Gottesman has worked with the Chai Folk Ensemble on and off for the past 15 years, most recently contributing choreography for the group’s 50th anniversary performance in 2014.

“Israeli folk is young, not even 100 years that we create our own folk dance. It’s actually still within the creating process,” Gottesman explained. “Time will tell what will become of it. It’s now a big mix of all the origins of Jewish people coming to Israel.”

“Israel as a country, you have so many influences because you have Jewish people from all over the world,” Sommer added. “You have Eastern European influences, but you also have Moroccan and Ethiopian influences, Yemeni and Latin American influences. It’s fun to incorporate it all.”

“There’s not really much like this,” Gottesman said of the Chai Folk Ensemble. “They’re dancers, singers, and musicians that volunteers who work their (tails) off… giving their free time just to bring culture onstage.”

Gottesman explained that Meridian is made up of both new and old pieces of choreography. Older pieces have been reimagined and “re-energized” to fit the music of the Black Sea Station, a world-renowned klezmer group featuring award winning and critically renowned musicians Daniel Koulack, Ben Mink, Nicolai Prisacar and brothers Myron and Victor Schultz.

“It’s Shai’s vision, so he put together repertoire this time,” Sommer explained. “We’re really lucky to have him.”

A resident of Tuxedo, Sommer said the groups all got together this summer to begin rehearsals, but often work separately on their own components. As vocal director, Sommer and the choir have been meeting “once or twice a week” since then. During the weeks leading up to the Nov. 17 performance, everything comes together and rehearsals become more intense.

“I haven’t seen much of it yet, so I’m very excited to see it come together,” she said.

Facebook.com/TheHeraldWPG
Twitter: @heraldWPG