New and Most Popular Dances from Israel

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE

NEW AND MOST POPULAR DANCES FROM ISRAEL

A graduate project submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Recreation by Haim -Livne

Jun~, 1978 The Graduate Project ·of Haim Livne is approved:

Talmage Morash, M.A.

(Date)

;; INTRODUCTION

Israeli folk dancing started thousands of years ago during Biblical times. One of the first times dancing is mentioned is in the Bible when Bathsheba danced in front of King David when he returned victorious from a war. After this, folk dancing increased ·in popularity and much dancing was done at various activities such as weddings, bar mitzvahs, and other types of celebrations.

After the destruction of Israel by the Romans, the Hebre~v people dispersed all over the world. Although some of the original styling was preserved, the Hebrews absorbed different dances.,from all over the world, in whatever country they lived. To these dances they added their own type of music and styling. After the re-creation of Israel, Hebrew people from almost every country in the world came to live-in Israel. With them they brought many different cultures and dances. After several wars and a new generation growing up in the Middle East, new music and dances were created about war, love, religion, and every-day life in Israel today. Together the old and new culture combined to make these dances uniquely Israeli. In the last few years in America, the interest in Israeli

folk dancing grew tremendously.· In many parts of the country, in schools, colleges, camps, community centers, and international folk

dance circles, the dances are not only ~augh~~_but exhibited as well. It adds to their popularity and acceptance. The excitement

iii of the music, the many varied styles and moods of the dances, make them uniquely exciting. After dancing for fifteen years, I have decided to make this album of Israeli folk dances. There are hundreds of beautiful dances and I have tried to reproduce some of the most popular ones. All of the dances in thts instruction manual originated in Israel. Even someone who does '(ilot know how to dance can enjoy listening to the music. I have tried to make the dance instructions as clear and simple as possible. This album and the dance instructions were produced for educational purposes.

\ \

iv Abbreviations

CW - move clockwise CCW - move counterclockwise frd - forward ptr - partner R - right L - left

Descriptions

Yemenite - Dance step which originated in Yemen by Hebrews. Using either the right or left side, step to the side shifting weight and step, shift weight back again while stepping and cross in front. \

\\ \ Grapevine - Using four steps, to either side, step in front, step to the side, step behind, step to the side.

v INDEX

Pag~

LANER VELABSAMIM . 1

AL KANFE HAKESIF - ON SILVERY WINGS 3 SHECHARCHORET 4

1 HORA CHADERAH .. . 6 B'AVIV •.. 7 · KOL HAKAVOD 11 MECHOL HAKEREM . . 13 BAT TEMAN . . . 16 BISDOT BET-LEHEM 17 EREV TOV . . . . 19 MECHOL HANOAR 21 YEDI D NEFESH . . 23 MI LI YITEN - WHO WILL GIVE ME? 25 TOV LALACHET BADRACHHl .. 27 KAN BADARON ...... 29 MOCHER,HAPRACHIM- THE FLOWER SELLER .. 31

vi LANER VELABSAMIM

Formation: A couple dance done in a circle, partners holding hands, man on the inside, woman on the outside, couples facing CCW.

---PART ONE 1-6 Yemenite right, touch right heel, yemenite right again. 7-12 Yemenite left, touch left heel, yemenite left again.·

PART HJO 1-6 Partners are facing and holding left hands, touch palm of right hand to the palm of the person's hand standing to the right side. Yeminite right, touch right heel, yemenite right again and change to the left side.

7-12 Repeat l-6, exc~pt using opposite steps to the left side. Repeat Parts One and Two again. PART THREE l-9 Partners facing, each one starts to his right side, step right, close left in front of right; repeat. Yemenite

right, brush in front of Jeft, step right~ left, right.

10-18 Repeat 1-9 starting with left foot to the left side and using opposite steps.

1 PART FOUR 1-5 Partners facing, palms touching persons to the right and left side, step right, to the right side, shift balance to the right then back to the left, close right to 1eft.

6-10 Repeat with opposite steps to the left side.

PART FIVE 1-12 Couples holding in a ballroom position, each couple makes one full turn in place CW, step right, left, right, yemenite left, step right, left, right, yemenite left.

REPEAT PARTS THREE, FOUR AND FIVE, START FROM BEGINNING. ON SILVERY WHIGS

Formation: Circle, holding hands.

PART ONE l-3 Run forward, right, left right.

4-7 Leap on left to right foot, changing direction, and step left, right, left.

8-15 Facing clockwise, do two grapevines starting with_the right foot.

PART TWO 1-4 Facing center, step-hop right, step-hop left.

4-12 Yemenite right, hop, yemenite left, hop.

13-16 Taking four steps backward, right, left, right, left.

Repeat Parts One and Two.

PART THREE

Formation: Facing center of circle.

1-4 Moving CCW, hop on left, land on both feet~ repeat. 5-7 Step with right in toward center of circle, then step backward again, bounce in place twice.

8-15 Repeat pattern moving clockwise. SHECHACHORET

Formation: Couples in a circle, man on inside, holding inside hands, (preferably close together, arms interlocked). Dance is flirtatious. Steps are described for man; woman's is opposite except on the third part. PART ONE 1-4 Yemenite left. 5-6 Slowly squat. 7-8 Slowly rise.

9-12 3 steps forward, right, left, right.

13-16 Yemenite left, end almost facing partner. 17-20 Drop hands, and turn once around to own right in three steps, right, left, right. End facing partner.

21-22 Take both hands, rock back on left (right stays frd), bending left knee. 23-24 Rock forward onto right. 25 Back on left again. 26 Forward onto right. .27 Close right to left. 28 Hold 29 Snap fingers to partner. 30 Hold

Repeat part one. 5

PART TWO Formation: Face partner, woman holds palms together in front of chest; man holds woman's hands.

1 Step right to right.

2 Step left across right.

3 Step back on right (to move in the other direction). 4 Step left to left, starting turn to left. 5-6 Complete turn, stepping right and left. End facing partner again, same handhold. 7 Close right to left.

8 Hold.

Repeat part two.

PART THREE Formation: Take partner in.ballroom position: Woman's steps same as man's. l-4 Three steps frd., turning (with ptr) once around,

right~ left right. 5-8 Dropping arms from waist, but holding man's left in woman's right. 9-32 Repeat three more times. 6

HORA CHADERAH

Formation: Circle dance moving CCW in a shoulder hold.

PART ONE

1-4 Four steps CCW, ri~ht, left, right, left. 5-6 Place right heel frd. 7-8 Step with right back and left forward.

PART TWO Formation: Hands joined high, snap fingers while placing heel. 1-4 Four steps to the center, right, left, right, left. 5-8 Two right heel placings. 9-16 Repeat 1-8.

Repeat Part Two

PART THREE 1-2 Step right to r-ight,. cross 1eft behind right. 3-4 Step right to right, touch left beside right. 5-8 Repeat l-4, reverse direction and footwork. 9-10 , Step right to right and touch left beside right. 11-12 Step left to left and touch right beside left.

13-15 Thre~ step turn with right to right. (CW) 16 Touch left beside right. .17-31 Repeat 1-15, reverse direction and footwork . I

B1 AVIV

Formation: Couple dance done in a circle, partners standing at an angle, hands are held at shoulder level. Couples are

facing ~enter of circle, moving CCW. Both partners start on the same foot throughout the dance.

PART ONE 1-4 Step right to right, cross left in front of right, right to right, cross left in back of right.

5-8 Step right to right, cross l~ft in front of right, right in place, left to left (the steps are done'with a bent left knee and the right foot on the toes) ..

11 11 9-12 Two bending steps , both partners make a turn in place CCW. 13-14 Close right to left, pause one count (couples face center of circle).

PART TWO 1-2 The woman makes a 3/4 turn to the right shoulder, step right, left, and turning toward the right side of the circle. The partners are holding hands, the woman goes underneath their hands. The man accompanies the woman in place with right, left and makes a 3/4 turn to the right (to the woman) finishing face to face in the line of the circle. 3-4 Right back with bent knee, arms spread, left in place forward. 5-6 Both partners change places in 1/2 turn CW. The man steps right, left turning through the right shoulder.

The woman steps right~ left turning through the left shoulder (the couple is still holding hands, the woman goes underneath). ·7-8 Right foot back with bent knee, hold hands and extend arms, left in place in front. 9-10 The woman makes l/2 turn in place through right shoulder, while stepping right, left. The man steps closer to the woman right, left, while moving right hand over head of woman, finishing in angle position CW. '11-12 With knees bent, step right both partners, make 1/2 turn CW, finishing in CCW position. 13-16 Two bending steps with right, forward in line of direction. 17-18 Right closes to ieft foot; pause.

':PART THREE Formation: The man stands behind the woman with his hands on her waist. Couples are facing CCW.

1-2 Step right moving at a right angle, step left foot near right while keeping all the body weight supported on right foot. Touch left foot with ball of foot. Woman look back over right shoulder at partner. 9

3-4 Repeat 1-2 except starting with left foot and using opposite steps. 5-8 Step right, left, right, to the right side, touch left foot near the right, woman looks over right shoulder at partner. _ 9-12 Repeat steps 1-4 except start on the left foot and use opposite steps. 13-14 Let go of right hands, take a slow step with the right foot, the woman pivots in place with the left foot, through the left shoulder for 1/2 turn toward her partner.

PART FOUR 1-2 Couples do a full turn through the right shoulder in two steps, right, left. The women turn toward the center of the_ circle, the men toward the outside of the circle. The partners are traveling away from each other, but finish face to face. 3-4 Step right back on bent knee, step left in front. 5-a· Step right, left, right, left, toward your partner. The men hold the women's waist, the women hold the men's shoulders, their right sides are almost touching. Couples move l/2 turn CW in place, starting on right foot.

9-16 Repeat 1~8, except the man turns toward center of circle, women to the outside. 10

PART FIVE

Formation: The men stand with their backs to the outside of the circle, the women have their backs to the inside. The couple is facing each other.

1~2 Let go of hands, right foot steps backward with bent knee, left foot in front. The man holds woman's waist, woman holds man's shoulders.

3-4 Close ri~ht foot to left, bend knees and lower body. 5-6 Stand up slowly on count of two. 7-8 Repeat 1-2 9-16 Men hold women's waist, women hold men's shoulders. Couple makes a full CW turn in place. With bent knee start right foot four steps, right, left, right, lefL 17-18 Close right foot to -left as couple moves to starting position. 11

KOL HAKAVOD

Formation: Circle dance. PART ONE l-8 Moving CCW and starting with right foot, eight grapevine steps, closing left to right. 9-16 Moving CW and starting with left foot, take seven grape vine steps, the last step placing the right behind the 1eft. PART TWO l-4 Starting with the left and turning ccw. through left shoulder, turn left, right, left, and touch right foot next to the left, at the same time clap once. 5-8 Start with right, turn CW through right shoulder moving in a CCW direction, turn right, left, right, close with left and clap. -PART THREE 1-8 Turn CW, taking six steps starting with right foot, at the same time lifting the arms overhead, hop both feet, land on left, lift right. PART FOUR l-7 Moving toward center of circle, step right, left, right, left, lifting hands overhead twice, leap from left to right, step left, right, clap blice. 12

8-13 Facing CW and moving sideway through left shoulder, take four cross steps, left in front of right, step left, right, left, right, pivot on left for a 3/4 turn and close with right.

Repeat Part Four

-PART FIVE 1-8 Jump on both feet, lift left, jump and lift right, jump and lift left, jump and lift right.

Start from the beginning. 13

MECHOL HAKEREM

Formation: Couple dance done in a circle with the woman leading and moving CCW, right hand of man holds left of woman.

PART ONE 1-8 Partners take two leaps from left to right, left to right. Men take four small steps while turning CW with left arm stretched out in a cutting motion. Men move to the right side of partner while turning. Women take four small steps while turning CCW with right arm stretched out in a cutting motion. 9-16 Repeat 1-8, except parts for women and men are reversed. 17-24 Repeat 1-8. 25-32 Repeat 9-16.

PART TWO 1-6 Facing each other and holding hands, men step toward inside of circle, opening left, right, left and right, left, _right, women step right, left, right and left, right, left opening toward outside of circle. 7-10 Men make a full turn CCW, stepping left, right, jump-hop leaving right foot free. Women make a full turn CW, right, left, jump-hop leaving left foot free. PART THREE

1-8 Partners facing~ men hold out right arm~ bending it up at the elbow. Women hold men's forearm with both hands. Women outside of circle, men inside, 1110men lead men

while stepping backward~ left, right~ left~ right in

place~ left backward and forward; men use opposite feet. Moving CW, partners make a full turn with eight small

steps~ starting on right.

Repeat Part Two twice.

PART FOUR 1-4 Partners facing, hold onto waist and make a full turn CW taking eight quick steps starting on right foot.

Repeat Parts Two and Four.

PART FIVE

1-8 Partners facing and holding hands~ men step forward

right, left~ right~ and left~ right~ left~ stepping right_foot backwards then forwards and closing with left; women use same steps and feet except moving backwards.

9-1 (j Women hold men's shoulders~ men hold women's 1t1aist. Men pick up women for 1/2 turn CW. 11-18 Repeat 1-8. 15

19-20 Partners still holding hands, pivot with left foot while extending arms overhead and make a full turn together. (Women turn CW, men turn CCW.).

Repeat Part Five and start from the beginning. 16

BAT TEMAN

Formation: Circle dance, closed arm hold.

PART ONE 1-4 Left heel touch in front, close, step right and close.

Repeat nine times.

PART TWO 1-4 Step right, brush with left, bend knees and go down, then back up again. 5-10 Yemenite right, yemenite left. 11-12 Turn CW, right, left. 13-17 Step right foot to the right, then brush right foot toward the left, step right, left, right. 18-22 Step left foot to the left, and brush left foot to

the right, then ste~ left, right, left. 23-29 Put right foot back and lean backward, then forward again. Two counts back and two counts forward, then in same position lean back forward and back again,

taking only three counts~

Repeat Part Two till end of dance. 17

I '

BISDOT BET-LEHEM (In the fields of Bethlehem)

Fot~ation: Couples facing CCW holding inside hands. Steps are described for the man; woman•s steps are opposite.

PART ONE 1-4 Four steps forward on left, right, left, right. 5-6 Half a yemenite step on left facing each other, holding hands.

7 Step on left foot moving in opposite direction, CW. 8 Right foot swings from the outside to the inside.back to CCW. 9-11 Step forward on right, left, right. 12 Swing left leg forward with bent knee. 13-14 Step backward on left, right. 15 Step sideways on left away from each other.

16 Put weight on right foot. 17-32 Repeat 1-16.

PART TWO Formation: Holding both hands in varsovienne position. l-2 Step together step on left, right, left. 3-4 Step together step on right, left, right. 5-8 Repeat 1-4 while woman makes full turn outside without releasing hands, and with hands crossed in front. 18

9-12 Step left, right, left, right, away from each other and back in a circle. 13-16 Step left, right, left, right, holding hands together low back to back while making a full turn.

17-18 Two steps left, right~ away from each other, and back towards each other, holding on to the woman with the left hand. 19-20 Step on left, right, in place while the woman makes a full turn under the man•s left arm CW. 21-40 Repeat 1-20. 19

EREV TOV

Formation: Couple dance done in a circle. Partners are standing side by side to begin dance.

PART ONE

1-4 Start right side with right foot~ shift balance from right to left on count of two. 5-8 Step right, left step behind, step right, touch left and close to right foot. 9-16 Repeat 1-8, except starting with the left foot and using opposite steps. Repeat Part One.

'PART TWO 1-12 Moving CW with right foot leading, step right, left, right, left, then do a grapevine, accenting the right foot. Repeat Part Two.

PART THREE 1-8 Moving CCW take eight steps starting with the right foot, then do a grapevine accenting the right foot. 9-16 Repeat 1-8 starting with the left foot and accenting the left. Repeat Part Three. PART FOUR 1-·8 Moving CCW, shift weight from right' to left and hop from left to right, then starting with the left foot, run left, right, left, right foot close, hop hop on both feet and land on left foot. 9-16 Repeat 1-8.

PART FIVE 1-8 Facing center and starting with right foot, step right, left, right, then left, right, left.

9-16 Starting with right walk backward~ step right and clap left, step left and clap right, step right and clap left, step left and clap right. Repeat Part Three. Ll

MECHOL HANOAR

Formation: Couple dance moving CCW. Men inside circle, women outside. Both left hands are joined, man's right hand and arm is over shoulder of partner.

PART ONE 1-8 Partners start on right foot, hop right, left, right, left, each step takes two beats. 9-15 Run right left, and jump on both feet in place; repeat. 16-19 Run right, left, male partners, the women make a

3/4 turn CW, right, left. Partners ar~ facing ea~h other, both jump in place and land on right foot. 20-23- Women step right, left, jump-hop in place leaving left foot free; men use opposite feet. 24-27 Women make a full turn CCW with two steps left, right, then jump-hop leaving left foot free; men use opposite feet. 28-31 Women step left, right, and jump-hop leaving right foot free; men use opposite feet. 32-35 Women make a full turn CW with two steps right, left and jump-hop leaving right foot free; men use opposite feet. 22

PART TWO 1-4 Partners are facing each other. Women step right, left, and jump-hop leaving right foot free; men use opposite feet.

5-8 Women step right, ~eft and jump-hop leav_ing right free; men use opposite feet. These steps are short ones and are almost done in place. 9-16 Partners hold each other and do two full turns CW in place four steps to each turn, ending in starting position.

PART THREE 1-4 Partners are facing each other and holding right hands. Women step right, left, and jump-hop leaving right free; then step right, left, jump-hop leaving right free. Men use opposite feet. Repeat 9-15, then start from the beginning. 23

YEDID NEFESH

Formation: Circle with ordinary hand holding.

PART ONE l-3 Waltz steps beginning-with right foot. 4-6 Waltz steps whilst turning backward through left shoulder. -7-9 Waltz steps beginning with left while progressing backward.

10-12 Waltz steps while turning back through right shoulder. 13-24 Repeat 1-12

PART TWO 1-3 Waltz steps to center of circle (face to center of circle). 4-6 Waltz steps backward (return to place). 7-9 Enter center of circle with half turn through right shoulder. 10-12 Waltz steps backward with the back to the center of circle. 13-24 Repeat 1-12 in opposite direction.

PART THREE 1-6 Moving CCW, two waltz steps beginning with right. 7-9 Waltz steps while making a complete turn on line of direction. 10-12 Waltz steps in place beginning with the left foot. 13-24 Repeat 1-12. 24

~ .

Repeat Part Two.

PART FOUR 1-3 Face to center of circle, step right to right, left crosses behind right and.touch. 4-6 Step left to left, right crosses behind left and touches. 7-9 Moving toward center of circle, step right, left to right, and pause in place, one count. 10-12 Waltz steps backward beginning with the left. 13-24 Repeat 1-12. 25

' .

WHO WILL GIVE ME?

Formation: Couples facing, man with back to the center, holding hands. Steps are described for the man; girl's steps are opposite.

PART ONE l-2 Step right forward, left back . . 3-4 Repeat.

PART TWO 1-3 Yemenite right. 4-5 Step left to left side, cross right over left and snap with knees bent. 6-7 Repeat. 8-10 Yemenite left. ll-13 Yemenite right. 14-16 Yemenite left. 17-20 Moving to the right toward your partner, hop from left to right, close left, step right in place twice. 21-24 Repeat; ending in original formation. Repeat Parts One· and Two. 26

PART THREE Formation: At the end of part two, stand shoulder to shoulder, facing opposite, instead of original position.

1-3 Start forward right, left, right, left, at the same time arms and hands are extended in front with the left hand across the right. 4-5 Repeat stepping right, left. 6-12 Moving backward, step right, left, right (pause),. left, right, left, leaving right foot free. 13-16 Hopping, right, left, right, left, around your partner, still facing forward. 17-19 Yernenite right. 20-22 Yemenite left. TOV LALACHET BAORACHIM

Formation: Circle dance, holding hands.

PART ONE 1-6 Step right, left, right, toward center of circle, left in place, right, left, right, backwards to starting position. 7-12 Moving CCW, step right, bend left knee and lift left· leg, touch left toes to floor, step right again and . repeat with left leg .. This is done quickly on two beatsr Then hop four times on right f6ot while left leg is bent and held slightly off the floor.

PART TWO 1-6 Continuing CCW step left, right, left, right, always step left in frcint nf right, then left foot step-hop.

PART THREE 1-6 Take three short, quick, running steps, right, left, right, then moving toward center of circle, take three

steps left, right, left, ~n the last step extend arms over head and bend upper torso toward center .

. PART FOUR 1-4 While making a full turn CW, step right, left, step-hop on right foot. Repeat,Parts Two and Three 28

PART FIVE

1-4 Make a full turn CW, step right,. left, right, left, at the same time you step left on the last count, lift the right leg (bend knee and lift). Start from the beginning.

t 29

KAN BADAROM

Formation: Couple dance moving in a circle CW. Men are outside of circle, women inside. Men start on right foot, women

left fo~t, couples are holding hands.

PART ONE 1-6 Men step right, left, right, women step left, right, left. Men yemenite backward starting on right foot, women yemenite backward starting with left foot. 7-12 Men step right, left, right; women step left, right, left. Men yemenite to the right side starting with right foot; women yemenite to the left side starting with the left foot. 13 Couples stop in place one count and bend their knees and snap slightly to the side toward each other.

PART TWO 1-6 Men pivot 1/4 turn to the outside of the circle CW stepping left, right, left. Women pivot 1/4 turn to the inside of the circle CCW, stepping right, left, right. Men pivot 1/2 tur·n CW, left, right, left; women pivot 1/2 turn CCW right, left, right, partners moving toward each other. 7-12 Facing each other, men yemenite left, right, left, women yemenite right, left, right .. Then men yemenite 30

right, left, right, and women yemenite left, right, left. Repeat 1-6.

PART THREE

1-7 Partners are standing side by side. Men yemenite backward starting with left foot, women yemenite backward starting with right foot. Then men yemenite backward starting on right foot; women yemenite back ward starting with left. Partners pause in place still standing side by side, men touch with left foot and snap, women touch with right foot and snap. Repeat Parts Two and Three, then start from beginning. 31

THE FLOWER SELLER

Formation: Circle dance holding hands moving CW.

PART ONE 1-8 Two grapevines·CW starting with the right foot.

PART TWO

1-8 Starting on right foot~ step eight times in place, bending knees and picking legs up high. Repeat Part One.

PART THREE 1-4 Starting on right, do two hops, right, left, right, left.

5-8 Four small st~ps in place, right, left, rfght, left.

PART FOUR \ \ 1-7 Turning CW, starting on right foot, right hop, left \ hop, yemenite right. 8-14 Starting on left, left hop, right hop, yemenite left. Repeat 1 through 14. 15 Turning toward the center, put right foot in front and then back again. Start from the beginning.