Judi Rivkin
English Country and Contra Dance Leader
Based in Central New Jersey		 photo of English Country Dance leader Judi Rivkin by Jim Dugas

Email Judi Rivkin at
judi.rivkin-AT SIGN-alumni.usc.edu

rivkinetic.org

Past Engagements

Upcoming Engagements

Judi Rivkin has been dancing all her life, and started on her path as a dance leader when she moved to Seattle from New York in 1991. Weekly English country dance workshops she started in Seattle have been the source not only for dancers of all experience levels to grow and expand their knowledge and repertoire, but also for several Seattle bands to develop. She is very proud to be a regular member of the teaching staff for Country Dancers of Westchester.

Judi's goals as a dance leader are to maximize dancing time through initial clear and concise teaching; offer "style points" to raise the level of dance; to prompt in such a way that dancers feel she is their “personal prompter” – hearing the calls if you need to, without intruding on the music; and to create an atmosphere that is comfortable for all, and conducive to goodwill and learning. She never forgets that dancing and socializing in the community is meant to be fun, that discretionary time (and funds) are at a premium, and that there's more than one way to learn a dance.

Judi's main influences in dance leadership have been Genny Shimer, Sue Salmons, Brad Foster, Fried de Metz Herman, Bruce Hamilton, Helene Cornelius, Christine Helwig, and her parents, who met while folkdancing in New York City. Her dad (a former Pinewoods camper and lifeguard) was at one time a ballroom dance teacher at Arthur Murray's own Fifth Avenue studio; later on, for many years, he led square and round dancing.

In November 2001, Judi left Seattle for the East Coast so as to be closer to her nieces and nephews. She currently resides in Ewing, NJ (between Princeton and Trenton), and is an active participant in dance communities up and down the coast.

Her latest endeavor was a well-received series of intermediate/advanced English Country Dance workshops taught in Princeton with Sue Dupré.

Nearly every Valentine's Day for many years, Judi has presented an evening of “Romantic English Country Dances in Waltz & Triple Time,” and December would not be the same without her dance programming toasting the holidays. Judi has been on staff at Pinewoods Camp in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Ogontz in Liman, NH.

She is a currently working on a task group planning the 2015 centennial celebration for the Country Dance & Song Society, and is planning the programming for the 2011 Head for the Hills weekend. She is a long-time member of CDSS, as well as Lambertville Country Dancers, and CDS Boston Centre. She helped produce the Fried-for-All Northwest weekends in Seattle in 1996 and 2006. She was also a founding board member of Country Dance*New York. In addition to her work as a dance leader, Judi has produced many English and contra dance events, weekends, and English country balls in both New York and Seattle, as well as a couple of dance websites, including one featuring several animated ECD figures, with music by Bare Necessities. She is web mistress for the Lambertville Country Dancers website.

When not dancing, Judi enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephews, singing, and working in the garden.

If you would like to contact her about leading a dance for your group, please email her at judi.rivkin-AT SIGN-alumni.usc.edu

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UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS:
 
last updated January 23, 2012