Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center

Ashkenaz’s ambience is plenty reason to check out this place. Even with only a handful of people inside (as when I arrive early for my Saturday a.m. class) the place talks to you. Long ago, in the early 70’s, David Nadel began Ashkenaz for all the right reasons; thankfully it continues with this basic mission. (Please read the «history» link on their web page) He designed it along the lines of an Eastern European synagogue, in honor of his roots. When I first wandered in I thought I was in a time machine. Tragically, 20 yrs ago, David was killed by a drunk customer he wouldn’t let back into the hall. From that one & only violent happening in Ashkenaz’s history came a wellspring for more peace. You’ve probably driven past this non-​profit, kid-​friendly, legendary music spot (and dance hall) on San Pablo several times. Why not stop?. Mostly something’s going on every day and/​or night. On Saturday I’m a student in the Afro-​Cuban class (10:30−12 noon; taught by knowledgeable & saucy Judith from Cuba). The live music includes her husband and talented friends who show up with him or drop in as the class progresses. The other students, typically 50 and older, are quintessential Berkeley-​ites (mostly educated, artististic, open & friendly). Askenaz feels like a magnet for the good-​hearted. Come be in a time no more, in a place removed from
crazy.

I love this place: traditional, cozy, local people, great atmosphere and excellent live music!

On Tuesday nights in the quaint studio in the back, they offer tango lessons with Sonja. She teaches a somatic approach and really gets you to feel the music, your body and your partner. You don’t have to bring a partner to the class. We take turns leading and following. Nor do you have to know what you are doing. After six weeks you will have the basic steps down and be ready to hit a milonga.
If you are looking for dance shoes, check out San Francisco Dancewear. There is one in Oakland/​Piedmont as well as SF.

Great Dance Club non-​profit I went to hear a Argentine Tango Quartet last Saturday and it started with a beginners class in Tango. Everyone was enjoying the class and the DJ Glenn played some wonderful Tandas to dance to and then when the Quartet came on they played their own music to listen to There was a performance by USA Tango Champions and lots of live music to dance to. It was a great crowd of good dancers and beginners were not afraid to try it out. A wonderful enviornment for all types of dancers. I did not try the food or drinks but if I was hungry I certainley saw some snacks there that I would try. Looking forward to doing more dancing here.

#Afrolicious was playing that night this Summer and I invited a friend from France. It was both our first time there. For someone who puts together events and one who is into all the details, I’d give it an A for ambiance, music, and parking.
I don’t think you need to figure out if either of us is going back to this joint. By now, you know the answer, right? Yeah, that’s right. #lol

My wife and I went here years ago for a date. We went to listen to a Hawaiian band play reggae style music, which we thoroughly enjoyed listening to.
We also enjoyed chatting during breaks and people watching. This is definitely a Berkeley establishment!
This is an «all-​ages» venue that offers beer & wine and vegetarian fare.

The Ashkenaz, known by many as a place to catch some weekly brazilian, reggae, latin, or folk music with friends and experience the famous eclectic culture of Berkeley. Aside from local musicians, the Ashkenaz has also been used as a venue for out of town artists performing anything from rock, to hip-​hop and rap.
The wooden structure consists of a main room complete with some tables lining the walls and a nicely-​sized dance floor in front of the stage. Typically reserved for the artists or VIP guests, there is a door to the side of the stage that leads to a small lounge.
My reason for attendance was to support a close friend while he performed here. On that night, there were hoards of teenagers and young adults. I found the whole set-​up to be rather stifling. There was no air circulation, and certainly not enough space to house that big of an audience. Over the course of the night, the hardwood floors became dangerously slippery as a result of spilled alcohol and water, and of course, sweat. It didn’t help that certain audience members decided to inconsiderately light up blunts and even some cigarettes inside. Needless to say, security was not on point that night.
The wait for the bathroom was also out of control and inside was a sight that almost cost me my vision.
The performance was well done aside from the fact that their were some hiccups with the microphones midway through the show. Luckily, we made it out alive.
Perhaps you could assume that the Ashkenaz does not make for the best venue to host a slightly more wild headliner and posse?
It was a shame that I had to experience this otherwise well-​restored Berkeley establishment on a less than desirable note but perhaps in the future, I’ll give it another go!

Came to this place this past Sunday for a Don Carlos + crew concert with my sisters & some friends and I loved every single second of it. The venue was super spacious and was the best place to host good vibes all around. During the concert I went to the restroom and didn’t have to wait too long to use a CLEAN restroom, and the line was full of genuinely nice people just chatting it up while we waited together. There is a booth where they sell all kind of healthy goodies — I got a bagel with cream cheese, pinot grigio, and pear ciders all of which where super cheap and delicious. The people working the booth where super nice, esp the guy from Ghana. Thank You!

Come early to get a seat! Love to attend concerts there especially when the Brazilian bands play. You can buy the tickets online or at the door but tickets are less expensive if paid in advance. A great dance floor and lots of tables plus they sell food and beverages at a reasonable price! Families are always welcome. They have all kinds of genre of music there just check out their calendar on the website!

I don’t know of any other place in the country that is quite like this venue. The bands are amazing, the people are friendly and inclusive and the wait staff is always courteous and attentive. You can drink or not and you will not feel out of place. Here it really it’s all about the music and nothing else. With different theme nights I will keep attendance at least once a month. Really it’s worth checking out.

Arrived early to a show Sunday May 12. Found the perfect seats, just one row back from the front, then 5 minutes before show time, the staff adds a row *in front* of everybody, then asks everybody else to scoot their chairs *back*.
To top it off, they dont acknowledge the inconvenience, insist its no big deal. The guy next to me tried to complain, and got a testy response. What poor customer experience. If you’re a musical act, don’t subject your fans to this poorly run venue!

Reason for visit: Hipline’s Anniversary Show.
Visit date: December 16, 2012
First time? Yes.
What a fun space! I came here for Hipline’s (
) Anniversary Show. There’s stage, plenty of audience space, and a complete bar with food. There were a few tables and they set up the chairs to look like a theater. They didn’t put enough chairs out for the number of people there (and there were no extra to pull out), but there was definitely plenty of standing room. The sound system is good and the dimly lit space is great for dancing, mingling, and acting silly. I’d come back for other events.

A biz-​erkely institution (that and Gilman) for the music scene. Used to go here alot when I lived herein the ’90’s. All types of musci and some great dead-​cover bands.
FUN!

Fun place to dance where you can take your kids along. People go to genuinely have fun. Love that I can take my children. Wholesome and I’m not sure why people are saying it seems unsafe. It was totally safe when we went.
Love to take the kids, learn a new dance and have fun for hours.

I’m what I call a HbP-​Hippie by Proxy.
Having lived amongst hippies for most of my life, I can out-​hippie by proxy 99% of you. My first boyfriend was named after a constellation, my second one was Hare Krishna, my house always smelled like a combination of Indian incense and Mendo incense, and growing up I used my window as a door and never wore shoes.
While the smell of patchouli makes me nostalgic, I am pretty far from being a hippie, whatever that word means. I never climb out my window anymore, and I have a near obsessive love of shoes, but my HbP nature is still in full swing.
The Ashkenaz further cements my HbP-​ness. It’s so reminiscent of NorCal hippie barn parties, with little tealights strung across the stage, children and adults dancing, holding hands, and just loving being alive and present. I may shave my legs and eat meat, but the Ashkenaz just makes me so happy, which is etymologically very similar to hippie. Coincidence? I doubt it.
The musicians that this little love shack books are always beyond talented, the cover fee being a small down payment for not only a magical time that night, but future good times by jumping on the groupie bandwagon and following these local musicians around town. The Ashkenaz only deals in cash, so bring it or use the ATM at Chevron across the street. A little goes a long way; the beer, wine, and kombucha are cheaply priced, which has been a bit dangerous in the past.
One of the only places around that has the potential to lop off the last two letters of my condition, leaving me only as ‘hippie’ or ‘happy’, whichever way you want to perceive it. All I know is that after hours dancing here with special people, ‘happy’ is the only word that my soul cares to utter.

I love a good old-​fashioned orgy, sweaty bodies gyrating to the natural beats of rhythmic music, torsos spinning and feet thumping on the ground…
And by «old-​fashioned orgy,» I mean a «really great dance celebration with lots of people.» Just to be clear, the environment and clientele are entirely wholesome, fun and respectable. The Afro-​jazz band playing that night filled the stage, and the dancers spread across the floor. And, my, what dancers they were, as some took to the space like spiders spinning up the wall. Moves, my friends.
There’s a bit of beer here, though not much. Just enough to loosen the joints. It’s really as simple as this: a big warehouse of a room with plenty of space to move.
So if you wanted to know where to have an orgy in the Bay Area (deal with those keywords, Google), Ashkenaz is your place.

Best place for a first date. I should know, as I was on the receiving end of a surprise date that will never be forgotten.
It’s as if all the stars aligned and a man took me dancing, something I LOVE to do on a first date to learn a dance I’ve never done before.
From there on out I was like putty. But I digress.
Ashkenaz is a really amazing place: great community feel, with rustic architecture and homey vibe. Great sound – good beer selection — comfortable environment. Hands down amazing experience.
We went on a Tuesday (I know right?!?) and still had a blast. IT WAS ROCKIN. I recommend this to anyone who loves live music, dancing, having fun, and trying something new.

Imagine all the people…
Yeah, this place is pretty much one big Lennon-​esque Love Fest. How could one complain about that?
The space feels like a big barn, with casual tables around the edges, a no-​frills bar in back (beer, wine and kombucha!) and an all-​walks-​of-​life crowd. We saw Audiafauna, a band from Santa Cruz that ended up being way better than I expected (think Sia meets Rilo Kiley). We stayed for a while, drank cheap wine and swayed carefree, as children frolicked and recovering-​hippies flung their limbs to the music. It was dreamy.
This is a place to feel free. Yes, it’s very «Berkeley»…but isn’t that why you came? Bring cash. Bring soul. Let go and love it.

I had never heard of Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center until last night. My friends convinced me to meet them for a small show. I didn’t know the music either. As soon as I walked through the door, I knew I had to stay longer than expected. I loved the big open space – perfect for dancing. There are also tables around the walls, which is nice for sitting and catching up if you get tired or storing your things.
They only serve beer & wine as alcoholic beverages, but they also serve other types of beverages for those not in the mood for drinking, which is nice. I loved the music, and I enjoy the idea of having a place to see more local artists. I fully support this place, and I plan on keeping up with more of their events.

Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center is a nationally recognized nonprofit music and culture venue that specializes in presenting live world and roots music. Ashkenaz was founded in 1973 by David Nadel, a dedicated human rights activist and folk dancer, in response to the San Francisco Bay Area’s strong interest in international folk dance. He transformed a warehouse on San Pablo Avenue into a dance hall, which was modeled after an Eastern European wooden synagogue. He envisioned a place where the world’s music and dance would dissolve the differences that keep people apart.
Unfortunately, David was murdered in 1996 by a drunk patron that he refused to let into the Building. It was the one violent act in a dance hall dedicated to peace and nonviolence. Yet his local legacy lives on, as I still remember many of the People’s Park and other Local Berkeley causes David championed. Most of the time I didn’t agree with him, but I admired his principles and passion.
As for the Ashkenaz itself, I’ve been here for folk dance lessons and an occasional show. I’m not naturally attracted to many of the acts here, so my attendance has been rather hit or miss over the years. Yet I make it a point to regularly keep up with the bookings. After all, who who knows when time and circumstance will bring people together?