On a recent sunny Sunday afternoon in Palo Alto, about 20 people of various ages, complexions and body shapes gathered in the concrete bowl at Mitchell Park. Most were women, but there were a few men, too. All were wearing masks. As Israeli pop music began to play, an instructor called out steps — slide, grapevine, “Temani” — and the dancers followed along, circumnavigating the tree-lined bowl while being careful to leave lots of space in between each other. Curious park visitors stopped to take in the scene and snap photos.
Since October, Aaron Alpert and Latishya Steele have led these outdoor, socially distanced “Nirkoda Ba’Gan” Israeli dance sessions. The duo, who have been holding popular