Israel

Adama Veshamayim

Adama Veshamayim was choreographed in 2008 by Gadi Biton - one of Israel’s most popular and prolific choreographers, with well over 200 dances created through 2010. The evenings of dancing that he leads in Tel Aviv attract 750-1000 (!) dancers every week. The song is sung by Lehakat Segol, based on an American-Indian tune with words in Hebrew expressing Israeli sentiments. Presented by Erica Goldman in 2011. View the pdf here.

Ahava Ktzara

Ahava Ktzara was created in 1992 and is one of the first dances choreographed by Gadi Biton. Gadi is one of Israel’s most popular and prolific choreographers, with well over 280 dances created through 2012. The dance was presented by Erica Goldman in 2013. View the pdf here.

Ahava Pshuta

Ahava Pshuta is one of many Israeli dances that feature pivot turns. In Hebrew, this movement is called a lahatz or a press turn because you are pressed close to your partner, and it is found in a large percentage of modern Israeli couple dances. It was choreographed by Roni Siman-Tov in 1983. Presented in 2013 by Erica Goldman. View the pdf here.

Benof Yaldut

Benof Yaldut was choreographed in 2000 by Eli Ronen and Israel Shiker. The song was written and is sung by Shlomo Artzi, one of Israel’s popular modern singer-songwriters. Choreographing a dance to a song by Shlomo Artzi will almost guarantee the dance will be popular wherever Israeli dances are done. Presented in 2011 by Erica Goldman. View the pdf here.

Darkeinu

This is a dance choreographed by Gadi Biton in 2002 to a song sung by Sarit Vino-Elad and Chani
Firstenberg.
Pronunciation:  dahr-KAY-noo  Translation: Our Path
Music:  4/4 meter  Stockton Folk Dance Camp 2011
Erica Goldman - Israeli Folk Dances CD, Track 3
Formation:  Circle facing CCW, hands held in V-position.
Steps & Styling:  Cha-cha-cross: Step R to R (ct 1); step L next to R (ct &); step R to R (ct 2); step L in front of R (ct 3); step back into place on R (ct 4). This step can be done with opp ftwk and
direction. Please also refer to “Steps Used in Israeli Dancing.”

Presented by Erica Goldman in 2011. View pdf here.

Debka Medabeket

A debka choreographed by Shmulik Gov-Ari in 1989. The lyrics were written by Ehud Manor and it is sung by the group Hadudaim.
Pronunciation:  DEHB-kah meh-dah-BEH-keht  Translation: Contagious Debka
Music:  4/4 meter  Stockton Folk Dance Camp 2011
Erica Goldman - Israeli Folk Dances CD, Track 4
Formation:  Open circle of dancers facing CCW, hands joined in V-position whenever possible.
Steps & Styling:  Sharp, clean and bouncy movements. Refer to “Steps Used in Israeli Dancing.”

Presented by Erica Goldman in 2011. View pdf here.

Donald Duck

A novelty/children’s dance from Israel.
Music:  2/4 meter  Stockton Folk Dance Camp 2011
Erica Goldman - Israeli Folk Dances CD, Track 10
Formation:  One line behind a leader
Steps & Styling:  Refer to “Steps Used in Israeli Dancing.”

Presented by Erica Goldman in 2011. View pad here.

Kol Nedarai

This is a dance created by Shmulik Gov-Ari (see photo) in 1988. The song is sung by Haim Moshe, one of Israel’s popular modern singers (over 35 albums) and is also well-known in Arab countries in the Middle East.

Presented by Erica Goldman in 2011. View pdf here.

Leolam Be’ikvot Hashemesh

A line dance for children choreographed in 1996 by Levy Bar-Gil.
Pronunciation:  leh-oh-LAHM beh-eek-VOHT hah-MEHSH
Translation:  Forever Following the Sun
Music:  4/4 meter  Stockton Folk Dance Camp 2011
Erica Goldman - Israeli Folk Dances CD, Tracks 11&12
Formation:  Individuals dancing independently, all facing front of room.

Presented by Erica Goldman in 2011. View pdf here.

Me’achoray Hahar

Children’s dance from Israel.
Pronunciation:  MEH ah-hoh-RAY hah-HAR  Translation: Behind the mountain
Music:  4/4 meter  Israeli Dances 2011 CD, Track 13
Formation:  Short lines of 4-6 people, hands on shoulders or waist of person ahead, like a train

Presented by Erica Goldman in 2011. View pdf here.

 

Or

This line dance was created in 2006 at Camp Alonim, Brandeis, California. Camp Alonim is a summer camp for Jewish youth.
Pronunciation:  OHR  Translation: Light
Music:4/4 meter  Stockton Folk Dance Camp 2011 Erica Goldman - Israeli Folk Dances CD, Track 7
Formation:  Individual dancers facing the front of the hall.
Steps & Styling:  Light and bouncy, with individual interpretation appropriate.

Presented by Erica Goldman in 2011. View pdf here.

Orot Ve Ashan

This dance was choreographed in 2010 by Yaron Malichi (see photo), one of the
younger Israeli choreographers, who created his first dances in the late 1990s. The
singer of the song (“Ha Laila”) is Margalit Tzanani; the song was written for her by
her son, Asaf Tzanani.

Presented by Erica Goldman in 2011. View pdf here.

Shalom Lachem

Children’s dance from Israel.
Pronunciation:  shah-LOHM lah-KHEHM  Translation: Hello to You All
Music:  2/4 meter  Stockton Folk Dance Camp 2011
Erica Goldman - Israeli Folk Dances CD, Track 14
Formation:  Sitting in a circle, legs crossed

Presented by Erica Goldman in 2011. View pdf here.

Shar

Shar was choreographed by Dudu Barzilai (see photo) in 2012. Video of the choreographer dancing this dance can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cov90idYllo
Pronunciation:  SHAHR  Translation: Sings
Music:  4/4 meter  Erica Goldman: Israel Dances, Track 11
Formation:  Individuals dancing generally in a circle.
Steps & Styling:  Yemenite: Step R to R (ct 1); step L to L and slightly bkwd (ct &); step R in
front of L (ct 2). Can be done with opp ftwk and direction.

Presented by Erica Goldman in 2013. View pdf here.

Shav El Admati

This dance was choreographed in 1981 by Gabi Moti and has recently experienced a recent revival when the song was re-recorded.
Pronunciation:  SHAHV ehl ahd-mah-TEE  Translation: Returning to my land
Music:  4/4 meter  Erica Goldman: Israel Dances, Track 13 and 14
Formation:  Hands joined in V-pos, moving generally CCW around the circle. This is a left-footed
dance, in that all the patterns begin with the left foot.

Presented by Erica Goldman in 2013. View pdf here.

Sheyavo

This dance is a waltz choreographed by Avner Naim (see photo) in 2010.
Avner has been choreographing dances for the Israeli dance community since
the early 1990s.
Pronunciation:  sheh-yah-VOH  Translation: Let it come
Music:  3/4 meter  Erica Goldman: Israel Dances. Track 1
Formation:  Couples begin facing each other, with M’s back to ctr. Hands are joined (W’s R in
M’s L, W’s L in M’s R) and down. W and M use opp ftwk throughout this dance.

Presented by Erica Goldman in 2013. View pdf here.

Tirkedi

This dance was created in 2000 by Gadi Biton. More information about Gadi is in the introductory
material for the dance Ahava Ktzara (page 40).
Pronunciation:  teer-keh-DEE  Translation: You (female) shall dance
Music:  4/4 meter  Erica Goldman: Israel Dances, Track 12
Formation:  Circle of dancers, hands remain free at sides. The dance moves generally CCW around the circle of dancers.

Presented by Erica Goldman in 2013. View pdf here.

Yalla

This dance was choreographed by Israel Shiker (see photo) in 2006. Israel has
been choreographing dances for the Israeli dancing community since the early
1980s. He has also been leading evenings of dance for more than 35 years.
The song is sung in Farsi by Arash, the same singer who recorded Salamati.

Presented by Erica Goldman in 2011. View pdf here.