Mona Atkinson

Mona Goldstein Atkinson is an American Israeli dance choreographer and Israeli dance leader.

Childhood: Mona has been dancing Israeli dance since age 3 when her mother brought her to classes run by Shirley Waxman and Rocky Korr at the Greater Washington JCC. She continued dancing with her mother and her sister into her teen years.

Teen Years: Mona learned from the markidim (Israeli dance instructors) in the Washington metropolitan area including Rocky Korr, Moshe Shem Tov, Helen Avner, Ken Avner, Mike Fox, Pepe Strauss, Rena Strauss, Moshany Shemesh, and many more. She danced with the high school troupe Yesodot throughout her high school years.

University: While studying at the University of Texas, Mona lead her first Israeli dance sessions, one at the UT Union and one at the Austin JCAA. In 2002 Mona choreographed her first renowned Israeli line dance "Ohevet Ozevet." Mona attended various national Israeli dance weekend retreats as a choreographer, teacher, and special guest.

Full time Israeli dance: Mona went to Israel for a year after college graduation and studied the Israeli dance business as well as the dances themselves. She learned from famed markidim and choreographers such as Gadi Biton, Yaron Ben Simchon, Yoram Sasson, Boaz Cohen, Avner Naim, Eyal Eliyahu, Dudu Barzilai, and Kobi Michaeli. When Mona returned to Maryland she founded RikudDC with Roee Ruttenberg and took over the Monday night session from Moshany Shemesh. In July 2007, Mona founded Mona Israeli Dance, the only entertainment company specializing in both DJing and Israeli dance in the Washington metropolitan area. Mona travels to Israeli dance sessions internationally to continually develop her Israeli dance and DJ skills. Her website is: www.monaisraelidance.com. In 2011 Noah Glushakow Smith took over leadership of the RikudDC session. In 2011 Ken Avner took over the leadership of the Monday night and Thursday night Maryland sessions. Moshe Shem Tov had previously led the Thursday night session for several years (maybe 20 years?).

Israeli Dance Festival DC: Mona became the festival committee director in 2013 under the mentorship of Daniela Tam. The Israeli Dance Festival DC's website is: www.israelidancefestivaldc.com.

Mona's choreographies include: Lines: Ohevet Ozevet, 2002 Tityaches Alai, 2004 Tzar Me'od, 2007 Atem Rokdim, 2009 Partners: Harumba, 2006 Jumbo Jet, 2006 Circles: Malachim, 2004 Hakinor, 2008 Harachaman, 2008