AUBURN — A trio of musicians from Boston will transport listeners to Romania, Poland, Ukraine and beyond at a dance and concert on Friday, Aug. 12, at Temple Shalom, 74 Bradman St.

Fiddler Jon Cannon, pianist Neil Pearlman and clarinetist Sara Mann will kick off the evening at 7 p.m. with a concert featuring a variety of Jewish klezmer music and a selection of evocative old-world melodies from Romania, Hungary and other Balkan nations.

Klezmer music, described as “embracing both the ecstasy and the despair of human life,” was written primarily for dancing at weddings and other festive celebrations.

The second half of the evening will feature a joyous mix of Israeli line dances led by Lisa Mayer, and lively New England and French Canadian contra dances led by Cindy Larock of Maine Folque Co-op. This will give the band the opportunity to showcase other styles of music from its eclectic repertoire, including Celtic jigs, Quebecois reels, and some original “gypsy jazz”-inspired tunes.

No prior dance experience is necessary as the dances will be simple and clearly taught. Those who would rather sit out and tap their toes to the music are welcome to do so.

Cannon is a founding member of two acclaimed Boston-based folk groups: Ezekiel’s Wheels, which captured the Best Klezmer Band and Audience Choice awards at Amsterdam’s 2012 International Jewish Music Festival, and Mierlita, one of the few American ensembles dedicated specifically to the exploration and performance of traditional Romanian music. He also plays fiddle and guitar for contra dances up and down the East Coast with a rolling cast of other traditional musicians, including Neil Pearlman.

Mann, Cannon’s wife, grew up playing Jewish music with her father, a surgeon by day and accordionist by night. She has performed as a guest musician in multiple klezmer bands from Boston to Argentina.

Pearlman was raised in a Scots-Jewish musical household in Portland. He is recognized in Celtic music circles for his unique approach to the piano, which weaves Cape Breton and Jewish music with many other genres, including Latin American and jazz.

Admission is $5.

FMI: 207-782-0386, www.MaineFolqueCo-op.com.