Lasting Memories
Ehud Krauss
July 15, 1946-Oct. 15, 2016
Palo Alto, CA
Ehud Krauss, 70, beloved Palo Alto dance teacher, Founder and Artistic Director of Zohar School of Dance passed away at his home on October 15, 2016.
Ehud Krauss was born and raised on a Kibbutz in Israel. Ehud was a member of the Israeli Olympic Volleyball team when a back injury led him to discover his passion for dance. Ehud studied dance with Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, Robert Joffrey, Gus Giordano and Luigi in New York, and performed as a soloist and principal dancer in Europe, Canada and the United States. An accomplished performer and choreographer, Ehud has been a fixture in the Bay Area dance community for over 35 years.
Ehud started teaching in local high schools and community colleges and founded Zohar School of Dance in Palo Alto in 1979. A gifted choreographer, Ehud’s innovative jazz works inspired and moved audiences with their beauty and range. Always forward thinking and wanting to bring the dance community together, he began Dance Mosaic, an annual summer dance festival bringing all dance forms together in a single program. It was during this time that Ehud’s true vision of making dance available to all began when he started the outreach program IndepenDANCE for children in East Palo Alto that had no after-school programs. That program, which began with 30 middle school-aged girls being bussed to Zohar’s dance studio on California Avenue, soon expanded to 6 elementary schools in East Palo Alto with Ehud building a dance studio with sprung-wood floors at each site. At its peak, IndepenDANCE was at 3 high schools, 2 middle schools and 10 elementary schools and included 4 instructors with classes in East Palo Alto, Redwood City and San Jose. Never shying away from a challenge, Ehud worked with the most serious offenders in Juvenile Hall and taught Juvie Jazz at both Santa Clara County and San Mateo Juvenile Halls. His influential work led to the development of a course at Stanford University entitled “Dance in Prisons” and provided graduate students with first-hand exposure to the Hall, teaching dance to youths that had never had formal dance lessons and hearing about their stories.
With his constant desire to grow as a teacher, Ehud taught children with special needs. He had a special gift of making everyone feel as though they could dance. No matter what the disability -- sight, hearing, wheelchair-bound, Autism or Downs Syndrome, Ehud would work his magic and make even the observer participate. These programs exemplify Ehud’s vision and commitment to serving the community through dance and sharing the splendor of dance.
Zohar Dance Studio under the direction of Ehud and his wife Daynee, has brought the joy, artistry and spirit of dance to the community through classes in jazz, ballet and modern dance in Palo Alto since 1979. The studio continues to offer adult classes with the Bay Area’s finest teachers committed to providing professional dance instruction and the opportunity to perform. Students range from beginning aspiring artists and dedicated amateurs to professional dancers all enjoying the splendor that dance brings.
In his spare time, Ehud loved to fish, bike and spend time with Daynee and their daughter, Maile. Ehud is survived by his wife, Daynee, daughter Maile, mother, Yehudit, sister, Michal Sadur and brother, Nir in Israel.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Zohar School of Dance www.zohardance.org/donate.html or sent to Zohar, 4000 Middlefield Road L4, Palo Alto, CA 94303.
Oct. 25, 2016
Ehud was one of the teachers my daughter, Elanor, loved at Independnce High School. He brought the opportunity to take workshops with the Alvin Ailey Compnay to the local community. Sharing his background and expertise, I was witness to his call to "bring the beef" when challenging the more advanced dancers. It was that, the challenge and the goodwill, the good feeling that came with the knowledge that a dancer could change things and be a valuable part of society thatI think set him apart. I loved that that extended to me too, as a parent, to become more, to follow a passion, to feel happy and rejoice in the life one had. We have lost one too many already, Dance so that we can feel you here. We remember you well.
Oct. 19, 2016
Oct. 19, 2016
I don't have the words to express my deep feelings at the passing of Ehud. I looked to him as my mentor and guiding light during my years teaching dance at Independence High School in San Jose, CA. He also influenced hundreds of our students through his volunteer work as a guest artist in residence, giving most generously of his time to teach our students and to choreograph dances for our premier dancers who formed our performing company. He worked with us not for just one year, but for several. I took classes at his studio for several years as well. He helped me to improve my technique, to cull ideas, to improve my choreography, which all in turn, helped my students become better dancers. I can still hear him calling me "Debush," in his own inimitable way. I also remember when he and Daynee became a couple - how happy they were together, how their partnership helped Zohar grow as a studio, and how Daynee's support of Ehud's work helped the least likely students to blossom as dancers. When Mailie was born, it was an incredible joy to watch Ehud's face and his gestures as he spoke about her. To see him with her was an absolute delight, even as she grew into a young woman. I am so sad that he is no longer in this world physically, but I am thrilled to be a part of his legacy, and that his legacy will continue to live through those who will carry out his work in the future. There is some amazing dancing going on in heaven right now, and I praise God for that, and that Ehud is free of all pain and limitations. May all those who love him find peace and comfort in their wonderful memories of their times with Ehud. Daynee and Maile, I pray that you can feel all of the love and support holding you up at this time. I will continue to lift you up to the light.