Randi and Murray Spiegel

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Randi and Murray Spiegel, known for their energy and enthusiasm, have given dance workshops and dance camps from Maine to California. They host a popular zoom session (now in its third year) from their home, are sought-after guest leaders at other zoom dance parties, and run two dance camps. During the pandemic, they've developed game shows and puzzles to enliven over a half dozen dance festivals.

 

Murray began dancing at the famous MIT club in 1978, falling in love with both the Israeli and International dances the same week.  He began to teach dance in 1980.  Randi fell in love with Israeli folkdance while at a Jewish sleepaway camp in 1968 and then became addicted to International folkdance several years later.  She learned dances directly from the many choreographers who came to Kenny Spear's session at the Flushing Y in New York.  Randi and Murray met at a folkdance workshop (of course!).

 

In addition to very strong interests in Balkan dances, Randi and Murray have devoted themselves to preserving and teaching the best of Hennie Konings' vast repertoire of Russian folkdances. They have very strong interests in Balkan and Russian dances.  Because few in Murray and Randi's local NJ/NY region knew many Russian folkdances, they attended Stockton Folkdance camp to meet Hennie Konings.  Since then, they have devoted themselves to preserving and teaching the best of his vast repertoire.

 

They are also members of a high-level chorus that has performed in Greece, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Eastern Europe, and the Baltic states, with a tour of Croatia planned before Playshop.  Of course, whenever the choir performs songs associated with folkdances, the director has them dancing.

 

At Mountain Playshop, they look forward to sharing some of their favorite dances from a wide variety of countries with you.