Humans of Hebrew College Audrey Klein

“Dance has played a significant part in my life since the age of six. And like so many other dancers, that meant my Decembers were consumed by ‘The Nutcracker.’ It was a tradition I looked forward to every year. Sure, it’s a ballet associated with Christmas; but that never seemed to compromise my Jewish identity. There weren’t too many other Jewish students in my ballet school, so I loved teaching my classmates about Chanukah. I think one year we even got permission to light the chanukiah, say the blessings, and sing a song or two in the dressing room before showtime (though, with all that fabric and hairspray, we had to put them out right away).

Performing dozens of times on the stage of a grand theatre with a professional ballet company are experiences I will always cherish. Even though I have hung up my ballet slippers, my dance training continues to serve me as I pursue the cantorate—poise, grace, discipline, and professionalism are all lessons that carry over from the ballet barre to the bimah.”

(Audrey Klein, former Mouse in Cleveland Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker, student in The School of Jewish Music at Hebrew College)