Jewish Youth Dance the Night Away at a Salsa Fiesta in Kharkov

On a recent Saturday night, Latin music filled a Community Center, where over 50 young people gathered to learn Salsa moves. This would be nothing unusual in Cuba, Brazil, or New York City – but the host Jewish Community Center (JCC) was in Kharkov, Ukraine. The exotic Salsa party, nicknamed "Dancing Israel," was organized by the Jewish Youth Association and the Kharkov Latina Club. The JCC is a JDC-sponsored facility.

As Salsa's suave moves have gained global popularity over the past few years, Jewish communities have been among its biggest fans. Because of her own enthusiasm for Latin dance, Anastasia, head of the Jewish Youth Association, created the JCC event. "Last summer I participated in a leadership seminar, where every evening we learned Jewish and other traditional dances from around the world," she said. "Many of us were fascinated by the lively and flamboyant Latin dances and we returned home in search of clubs to learn how to do many Brazilian dances. I got the idea to throw a party where people could actively participate rather than just watching passively."

People of all skill levels were invited to join, as professional teachers from the Latina Club gave a lesson on the basic Salsa steps. There was opportunity for pair dancing and individual performances, which lasted late into the night. The fiesta was one of the most popular youth programs at the JCC.