Joining us for the first time , we have Erica Goldman. She has been an engineering linguist, a high school English teacher, a nonprofit Chief Program Officer, and alongside it all: an Israeli dance teacher. Erica was the Director of Dance at Camp Alonim, the Jewish sleepaway camp where Israeli dancing is a shared obsession, for twelve summers, and has been an educator for the Cornerstone Fellowship, a program of the Foundation for Jewish Camp, for a decade. In May 2015, she launched Ma'agal, an initiative to improve Israeli dance education at schools and camps across the nation. In her spare time, Erica is the Deputy CEO for the Bronfman Fellowship, a pluralistic leadership program for Jewish high school seniors. She has been on the core team behind the Gvanim Israeli dance camp since its inception, and also teaches Israeli for many well-known international camps such as Stockton Folkdance Camp (CA) and the Ellen Golann weekend (NY). In 2023, she taught Israeli dancing on her fifth continent (so far!).

Ken Avner is a regular at Kochavim. He is our DJ extraordinaire. Expect a fun filled playlist. Ken is active in every aspect of Israeli dance: teaching, performing, techical and audio production, choreographing, and working with several major dance workshops and festivals. He has been on staff with Kochavim since its founding. Ken's enthusiasm and love of dance combine with his skills as a dancer, teacher, performer, and markid to make dancing welcoming and fun for everyone.

Mitch Ginsburgh is also a camp favorite at Kochavim. He is thrilled to be back with the Kochavim Family in 2025. Since 2007, he has delighted in teaching at many camps and choreographing new dances. He looks forward to sharing both standard repertoire as well as dances that challenge the mind and lift the spirit.

Returning after a short hiatus, Roberto is another camp favorite. He brings a flair to camp and is a wonderful teacher. He has been a part of the Kochavim family since the first Kochavim. Roberto has retired from the work place, but definitely not the world of dance. He is very happy to be back on staff and looks forward to sharing some lovely new and old dances with us all!