Gvanim

The first Gvanim was held on Labor Day weekend 2012 at Camp Starlight in Starlight, PA. Originally the dream of Gabi Gabbay, the camp came to fruition after Gabi was diagnosed with leukemia due to the efforts of a team led by Ilana Vichness. The camp was held one week after Gabi's passing, with his family's blessing. Irith Shade Shemesh took over as camp director for 2013 and continued the camp with the goal of creating a space for the next generation of Israeli dancers to thrive.

After a couple of years, Gvanim moved to the weekend before Labor Day weekend to avoid conflicts with weddings, back to school, and other events that tend to be scheduled for Labor Day weekend.

In 2016, Gvanim was the first to bring Michael Barzilai to the United States where he taught his first circle dance La Trumpeta, originally called HaChatzoztra. Michael went on to win Gadi Biton's Mitzad (countdown) of the best dances in Israel with Normali in 2017 and has been back to Gvanim - and to other camps across the US - many times since.

In 2017, Gvanim was unable to take place at Starlight and moved for one year to Camp Kenmont in Connecticut. After that year, the camp found a more permanent home at Camp Berkshire Hills Eisenberg, home of Sababa for many years and home of Hora Shalosh in 2023.

While no physical event took place in 2020, Virtual Gvanim took place with specialty sessions and nighttime marathons. The same staff was brought to the US in person in 2021 for the first in-person US camp since the pandemic began.

At camp in 2024, the camp was turned over to its next director, Katie Hamelburg, who had been a member of the staff for many years. The other American members of the staff stepped down to allow Katie to create her own team. Katie will continue the mission of creating a safe, inclusive space for dancers of all ages.

The next Gvanim is scheduled for August 21-24, 2025.

Staff 2025 - From Israel: Elad Shtamer, Chen Shporen, Melu Lanidao. From USA: Amalia Safer, Micah Cowan, Abbie Talmoud. Camp Director: Katie Hamelburg.

Staff 2024 - From Israel: Danielle Shkop, Hila Mukdasi, Michael Barzilai, Chen Shporen. From USA: Mona Atkinson, Alexis Maharam, Erica Goldman, Katie Hamelburg. Camp Director: Irith Shade Shemesh.

Staff 2023 - From Israel: Michael Barzilai, Melu Laniado, Chen Shporen. From USA: Mona Atkinson, Alexis Maharam, Erica Goldman, Katie Hamelburg. Camp Director: Irith Shade Shemesh.

Staff 2022 - From Israel: Marcelo Marinoff, Hen Rabinovich, Chen Shporen. From USA: Mona Atkinson, Alexis Maharam, Erica Goldman, Katie Hamelburg. Camp Director: Irith Shade Shemesh.

Staff 2021 - From Israel: Danielle Shkop, Hila Mukdasi, Tamir David, Chen Shporen. From USA: Mona Atkinson, Alexis Maharam, Erica Goldman, Katie Hamelburg. Camp Director: Irith Shade Shemesh.

Staff 2020 - Virtual Gvanim on zoom with many guest markidim. From Israel: Danielle Shkop, Hila Mukdasi, Tamir David, Chen Shporen. From USA: Mona Atkinson, Alexis Maharam, Erica Goldman, Katie Hamelburg. Camp Director: Irith Shade Shemesh.

Staff 2019 - From Israel: Michael Barzilai, Yaron Elfassi, Chen Shporen. From USA: Mona Atkinson, Alexis Maharam, Erica Goldman, Katie Hamelburg. Camp Director: Irith Shade Shemesh.

Staff 2018 - From Israel: Michael Barzilai, Chen Shporen. From UK: Ilai Szpiezak. From USA: Mona Atkinson, Alexis Maharam, Erica Goldman. Camp Director: Irith Shade Shemesh.

Staff 2017 - From Israel: Elad Shtamer, Chen Shporen, and Tzlil Elfassi. From UK: Ilai Szpiezak. From USA: Mona Atkinson, Alexis Maharam, Erica Goldman. Camp Director: Irith Shade Shemesh.

Staff 2016 - From Israel: Elad Shtamer, Chen Shporen, and Omri Mugzach. From USA: Mona Atkinson, Alexis Maharam, Erica Goldman. Camp Director: Irith Shade Shemesh.

Staff 2015 - From Israel: Chen Shporen, Ohad Atia, and Michael Barzilai. From USA: Mona Atkinson, Alexis Maharam, Erica Goldman. Camp Director: Irith Shade Shemesh.

Staff 2014 - From Israel: Chen Shporen, Eran Bitton, and Dror Davidi. From USA: Mona Atkinson, Alexis Maharam, Erica Goldman. Camp Director: Irith Shade Shemesh.

Staff 2013 - From Israel: Elad Shtamer, Chen Shporen, and Elad Perel. From USA: Mona Atkinson, Alexis Maharam, Erica Goldman. Camp Director: Irith Shade Shemesh.

Staff 2012 - From Israel: Yoram Sasson, Eyal Eliyahu, and Ilan Swissa. From USA: Shmulik Gov Ari, Naftali Kadosh, Maor Ben Ami. From USA: Ruth Goodman, Evelyn Hochstein, Adriana Lipovetzky, Diane Lallouz, Irith Shade Shemesh, Mona Atkinson, Erica Goldman, Alexis Maharam, Maor Ben-Ami. Camp Director: Ilana Vichness.

Related Links:

Gvanim's Facebook group

Gvanim's Website

Playlist from the night parties from 2013 is located here: File:Gvanim 2013 playlist.xlsx.