Yid Vicious Purim Costume Party – Sat., February 27, 2010 – The Frequency

Prize for best costume!

Purim is a festive holiday (oft described as the “Jewish Mardi Gras”) commemorating a time when the Jews were saved from extermination at the hands of the evil Haman, thanks to the efforts of Esther and Mordecai. During Purim, we are commanded to eat, drink and be merry. Yid Vicious enjoys all three activities, and thinks you will too. According to the Talmud, a person is required to drink until he cannot tell the difference between "cursed be Haman" and "blessed be Mordecai," though opinions differ as to exactly how drunk that is. This event features the talents of Shuvani Tribal Belly Dance, and a command performance of the Story of Purim by the Sockrates Sock Puppet Players.

Shuvani is a belly dance troupe based in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Inspired from a "How to Belly Dance" video and wearing sequined sports bras, Shuvani Tribal Belly Dance first performed in 2001 as Screaming Gypsy. Since then, working together in a Tribal style, they continue to explore the dances of North India, Tunisia, Egypt and other cultures to create a unique blend of harmonious choreography and improvisation that often features balancing swords, candles and clay pots. Shuvani and Yid Vicious were first brought together a few years ago in a Wausau VFW hall to entertain a boisterous bevy of jello-shot-fueled Purim revelers.

Sockrates Sock Puppet Carnival of Morals and Logic was incorporated in 2005 to finally break the puppet barrier at Madison’s High Noon Saloon. Originally engaged to support “The Entertainment”, a series of theme-based variety shows, the Sockrates troupe eventually branched out beyond its core “Great Philosopher” repertory to embrace The Book of Esther, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Starr Report, John Waters’ Female Trouble, and other beloved classics.

Yid Vicious was formed in 1995 in Madison, WI in order to ameliorate the woeful dearth of klezmer in America's otherwise pleasant heartland. Klezmer is Yiddish folk music, music for dancing and celebrating, and no band has caused more dancing and celebrating than Yid Vicious. Except Kool and the Gang, when they had that hit single about celebrating good times, come on; that caused lots of celebrating. But Yid Vicious is next, right after Kool and the Gang.

Yid Vicious: www.yidvicious.com

Shuvani: http://www.pamelaluke.com/belly.html

More on Purim: http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday9.htm

Yid Vicious Klezmer Ensemble
Email: yidviciousklezmer@yahoo.com
Web: www.yidvicious.com