Tango comes to Liberal Jewish Synagogue - Rabbi Alexandra Wright launches new dance classes

Published: 11 March 2011
by JOSH LOEB

A TANGO-loving rabbi is encouraging her congregation to pick up where Strictly Come Dancing left off and embrace the sensuous ballroom routine as “an expression of great joy”.

Rabbi Alexandra Wright of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in St John’s Wood is championing new tango dance classes, which were launched at the place of worship yesterday (Thursday).

While some might be forgiven for thinking that dancing in Jewish life does not extend much past clumsily jiggling people around on chairs at barmitzvahs to the tune of Hava Nagila after eating one too many gefilte fish, Rabbi Wright said there was a strong tradition of it in the Old Testament.

“After the parting of the Red Sea, Miriam [Moses’s sister] led the Children of Israel in dancing to celebrate,” she said. 

“She was a prophetess, a leader in her own right. There is also a famous passage in the Second Book of Samuel where David dances wearing only a linen ephod in front of the Ark of the Covenant. 

“He is rebuked by his wife, Michal, Saul’s daughter, for being vulgar. In the Bible, dancing is an expression of great joy and relief. 

“Accompanied by music, tambourines or drums, one must use one’s imagination to see how it allowed emotions to be released at times following great tension.”

The classes are being organised by Simply Dancing Partners, which was founded by Jenni Kravitz, who studied tango in Buenos Aires.

Rabbi Wright said she invited Ms Kravitz to set up classes in her synagogue after seeing her in action in the West End.

• Classes are every Thursday at 7pm at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, 28 St John’s Wood Road, NW8. All are welcome. The cost is £15 per session or £35 for those who would like the guarantee of a trained partner of the opposite sex. For bookings call 020 7736 4493.