Mimi Brodsky-Chenfeld “Queen of Fun” History

Mimi Brodsky-Chenfeld is a dancer, movement educator, educator, author, poet, and arts/education advocate sharing her inspiration and expertise with Columbus since 1970. She has truly manifested the concept of Thinking Globally, Acting Locally! 

Mimi started writing at 9 years old. She writes poetry, fiction, and has written many books. For the last forty years her focus has been on creative education. Since 2000, she has written an article titled, “Arts with a Heart” for Columbus Parent Magazine. 

Mim received her M.A. in Elementary Education from the State University of New York Oneonta and her teaching licensure from New York and Ohio. She was trained in Modern Dance and studied Israeli folkdance in New York with Fred Berk. Since moving to Ohio in 1970, she became the leader of the Hillel Foundation Israeli and International Dance Group. She has taught at Leo Yassenoff Jewish Community Center, Columbus, in the early childhood program, as well as working with adults. At the JCC of Columbus, Mimi choreographed several shows for Gallery Players, such as; Fiddler on the Roof, Milk and Honey, Dark of the Moon, and Yentl. 

Mimi has participated in many programs through the Ohio Arts Council, as well as the Greater Columbus Arts Council, where she served in the Artists in Schools program. She has brought dance to thousands of students. Her work in integrated arts includes, dance, music and story-telling. She helped plan and performed in many Columbus Festivals, including the Columbus International Festival. 

Mimi has and continues to teach courses in creative and arts education at multiple universities. For over ten years she taught “Arts Across the Curriculum” at Otterbein University. Since 2010 she has taught “Playing with the Arts” at Columbus Community College. 

Mimi was one of the founding members of Days of Creation, an artist collaborative that provided process-oriented arts experiences for children at camps, festivals and school residencies. Mimi received OhioDance's "Outstanding Contribution to the Advancement of Dance Education for the state of Ohio" and many other awards which she doesn't like to talk about. 

Mim's contribution to the landscape of dance in Ohio is absolutely unique. As the keeper of the fire of Israeli Dance she has nurtured and sustained this group for over 50 years!! She is the great unifier of dance in the Columbus area. She has opened the joy of dance for thousands of children, inspired untold numbers of educators and has been a vociferous advocate and spokesperson for the arts and education. She states, “movement is the most focused art and the most neglected”. 

Her favorite honor was the child who wrote to her saying, "Mimi, you are the Queen of Fun!" She has committed to and supported dance across cultural groups, educational settings, ages, dance forms and communities. She knows of the cultural life of this city like no other individual (from the place of the people). Oh, the stories she can tell!

Milestones

1970-present

Leo Yassenoff Jewish Community center movement/music, writing classes for early childhood, adults and kids

1970-present

Artists in the Schools, dance and integrated arts for all grade levels and subject areas

1970-present

FESTIVALS - Greater Columbus Arts Council Arts Festival, Columbus International Festival, ComFest, and Hot Times in Olde Towne East-folk dancing performance and participation

1970-present

Articles, Columns Books on integrating the arts Taught at Otterbein and Columbus State Community College "playing with the arts" early childhood program

1972-present

Hillel Foundation at The Ohio State University Israeli and International folk dance group

1975-1995

FOOTSTEPS dance company at Johnson Park Jr. High School created and developed the group which performed folk dance all over Columbus

1999-present

Columbus Metropolitan Library Summer Series special music, dance and story programs for children

2016-present

Head start movement workshop; Moms To Be

Mimi has written and continues to write numerous articles, and letters to the editor supporting the arts and education, as well as an on-going column for Parent Magazine.

Mimi has led and continues to lead workshops at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children (OAEYC), and many more nationally and internationally.