Born in Tel Aviv and having worked with the pioneers of Israeli folk dance, Danny distinguished himself as a master teacher, choreographer and dancer in both Israel and the United States for over 70 years, contributing greatly to the development of Israeli folk dance in the United States. A performer with Israel’s celebrated Karmon Dance Company, Danny came to America when they first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in New York in 1958. He then introduced dances adapted from Karmon’s stage medleys, many of which became classics in Israeli folk dance sessions throughout the world, including “Haro’a Haktana”, “Al Tira” and “Yamin U’Smol (Orcha Bamidbar)”. Subsequent to meeting Fred Berk in 1962, Danny began to give workshops at the 92nd Street Y and from their discussions came the idea to produce folk dance recordings. The first album, “Dance Along with Sabras,” was recorded in Buttenwieser Hall at the 92nd Street Y, and included “Haro’a Haktana”, “Al Tira”, “Debka Habir” (Debka Uria) as well as the dance, “Hanokdim”, that Danny had choreographed in Israel in 1957 and that had already become popular in the United States prior to his arrival. This recording was so successful that it was followed by six more. When Fred asked Danny to create an accessible dance for newcomers, Danny choreographed “At Va’Ani” (1962), a dance that has become a classic around the world. Danny was a co-founder of Hora Shalom Israel Folk Dance Camp, co-founder with Ruth Goodman of the Israeli Dance Institute through which they produced Horati 2001, Horati 2017 as well as numerous projects, events and publications. Danny and Ruth together led the internationally recognized weekly Israeli dance session at the 92nd Street Y until 2020, when, during Covid, Danny moved to Los Angeles. Prior to his move to California, Danny was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at Camp Bitnua in Israel in 2018. The New York community was thrilled to have Danny return to New York to celebrate his 90th birthday at the 92nd Street Y and with his Long Island session in the summer of 2023.

Danny was indeed a treasure, cherished by our global community of dancers and by all whose lives he touched.

May the immeasurable joy Danny gifted to the Israeli folk dance community through his dances, his inspired teaching, guidance, elegant dancing, boundless energy and visionary leadership forever dance in our hearts!

Seadia Amishai was born in Yemen. He arrived in Israel at the age of two and a half with his grandfather and grandmother, after his father's death. His mother remained in Yemen where she remarried.

At the age of eight, he arrived with his grandparents in the city of Hadera in Israel. Due to the difficult financial situation in the country, his grandparents were unable to take care of him. Therefore, he was sent to an institution for orphans in Petach Tikvah.

At the age of 13, Seadia began his adolescence at Kibbutz Sde Elihu, where he received religious education and began leading folk dances.

In the army, he was in the Nachal group, but after an injury, he left the army and began youth counselor courses. After completing his studies, he was sent to the Kiryat Shmone College to initiate and disseminate folk dances. There, conditions were difficult for teaching young people, but with his determination, Seadia managed to draw them along, and six months later, he founded a dance company that grew over the years.

At 23, he married, left folk dancing, and began working as a secretary at a medical center. From there, he advanced to a management position at a geriatric center in Pardes-Hannah. After a long period of management, he took on a new project at Sha'ar Manasse Hospital and built a new unit called forensic psychiatry in the psychiatric ward. It was in this position that he reached retirement age.

In the field of dance

At the age of 13, he was sent as a delegate from his kibbutz, S'de Elihu, to take dance lessons in Tel Yosef from Sturman Rivka, who was his first teacher. After completing his lessons, he began to instruct the youth group in his kibbutz.

After leaving the army, Seadia enrolled in the youth instructor course. During this course, he learned choreography. According to him, he gained all his experience through this course. In Kiryat Shmona, he began to spread folk dances.

After about six months, he formed a dance troupe that represented Kiryat Shmone and continues to this day. With this troupe, he went to France as an ambassador of dance. He left the leadership after three years.

Seadia dreamed of professional advancement, so he began studying dance at Tel Chai College, where he learned classical ballet, modern ballet and mainly choreography.

In 1959, he began his own creation. The most important impact of his dances was the influence of Yemenite roots. In his dances, he tried to keep the particular elements, sources and bases of traditional Yemeni dance. He raised three dance troupes in Hadera: an Israeli troupe and two Yemenite troupes. In addition, he created many groups in the northern region. Seadia was a beloved dancer from Metula to Afula and even abroad.

• 1959 - Adama admati - Earth, my Earth

• 1978 - Bo iti el HaGalil - Come with me to Galilee

• 1979 - Manginat HaDror - The Melody of Freedom

• 1982 - Shalom LeVo Shabbat - Peace for the coming of Shabbat