SHIRA KLINE, aka ShirLaLa, is a celebrated New York based performer and music educator. Traveling across the country and internationally with her kiddie-rock band, Shira delivers a dynamic, interactive program of joy and spirit, story and song. Raised in the world of music and the tradition of Torah, Shira has worked for over a decade with a diverse array of Jewish communities to enliven rituals, holiday celebrations, and love for Jewish life and prayer. Words, story and music are blended into a rich musical experience for children and adults alike. Featuring the talents of professional circus drummer Lee “Free” Frisari (Circus Amok) and glitter pink glam rock star, Viva Deconcini , on the guitar, ShirLaLa touches the lives of children and their families at synagogues, museums, schools, festivals and community centers including the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, The Toronto Ashkenaz Festival, The Jewish Museum on Fifth Avenue, the Alyeska Resort in Alaska, the Limmud Conferences in England, New York, Los Angeles, Australia and New Zealand. Her three “outrageously hip Jewish kiddie rock” albums have sold over 20,000 copies and are played repeatedly in homes, cars, and classrooms.
Shira is also a founding company member of Storahtelling: “Ancient Stories, New Generations” with which she is is an actor, writer, performer, and ritual leader. In its 10th year, Storahtelling is considered a trailblazer and a revolutionary approach to Judaism. She trains and works extensively with Amichai Lau-Lavie and Peter Pitzele (Bibliodrama)
Shira has been called the “Pied Piper of the next green generation” by LA Parent Magazine for her newest project, “Earth Worm Disco“. She celebrates eco-music for all the little rock ‘n rollers out there who love to sing and dance and who love our planet too!
In addition to performing, Shira is a worship leader and presents engaging programs for children and adults including Tot Shabbat, adult Jewish music meditation and professional development workshops for early childhood and music teachers. She serves on the faculty of the URJ Jewish Music conference, Hava Nashira, has taught classes at HUC-JIR, and has recently joined the musical forces of Synagogue 3000 and The Leadership Institute.
Shira’s motivation stems from a family who infused every moment of life with a love of Judaism – special homemade foods, singing and dancing to Jewish music, exploring and reveling in all holidays, ethics, lessons learned through Jewish eyes. Her father, Rabbi David Kline, taught her meditation as a form of prayer at an early age. Her mother, Barbara Kline, brought in each Shabbat with beautiful candle-lighting and homemade challah and at bedtime her father sent her to sleep with sweet dreams of Shabbat angels.
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