First KlezKamp to celebrate Yiddish language and culture to be held in July

From July 10-14, the Mayrent Institute for Yiddish Culture at the University of Wisconsin–Madison will host Madison KlezKamp, modeled after its parent program, KlezKamp: The Yiddish Folk Arts Program, which has attracted more than 20,000 participants from around the world since its inception.

KlezKamp is being held on campus in its full form for the first time this year. The program will offer classes on klezmer music, Yiddish language, cultural and linguistic history, vocal arts, dance and crafts, and will include a children’s program.

Henry Sapoznik, an expert on klezmer music and Yiddish and American popular culture, directs the Mayrent Institute. KlezKamp was presented in a modified format at UW–Madison in 2009 as a part of his arts residency. Sapoznik strives to embody the mission of the institute, encouraging the development of a worldwide Jewish community connected by culture and history.

Sapoznik looks forward to holding KlezKamp on campus. “What is unique about the program is its strong combination of both academic and literary elements and applications of folk literacy and mass culture to the unique wide range of resources of UW,” he says.

Some of the world’s most notable supporters of Yiddish culture will be teaching the challenging and exciting classes of KlezKamp. All are experts in different musical instruments, singing, dance and other facets of Yiddish culture.

In 1916, UW–Madison became the first American university to offer a Yiddish class. Sapoznik is celebrating this milestone nearly 100 years later with his program coming to the university.

“This has never occurred anywhere before and, because of the historic precedent of UW–Madison being the first university to teach these skills…campus is the perfect location to contextualize them,” he says.

Tuition is $750 for adults and $300 for children age 5 to 12. All lunches and dinners are provided; however, accommodations are not included in tuition. There are a limited number of work-study scholarships available.

For more information about the Madison Klezcamp program and schedule, lodging options and to register online, visit http://mayrentinstitute.wisc.edu. To receive print brochures, email klezkamp@cjs.wisc.edu or call 608-263-1936.