Israeli Folk Dancing

St. Louis, Missouri
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Folk dancing etiquette

Introduction to Basic Israeli Dancing Steps

 [by Richelle Abner. Posted at http://www.israelidances.com/find.htm]

1. YEMENITE STEP: 4 counts (4th count is a pause)

  • Rhythm of the Yemenite is Quick, Quick, Slow.
  • Right Yemenite
  • Balance right , (weight shifts on to right foot), balance left (weight shifts on to left foot), cross right over left , in front of left, weight on right leg, pause
  • Left Yemenite
  • Balance left (weight on left foot, balance right (weight on right foot, cross left over right (in front), weight on left leg, pause
  • Back Yemenite
  • Back with the R, back with the L, forward with the R, pause
  • Back with the L, back with the R, forward with the L, pause

2. GRAPEVINE (OR MAYIM OR SHAVTEM MAYIM)

(usually 4 counts or 8 counts for a double grapevine)

  • A Grapevine is a four-count sequence - even rhythm. If you do two Grapevines, you end up with 8 counts.
    Along the circle line to the right: (i.e. in an anti-clockwise direction)
  • Open right leg to the right, cross the left leg in front, open the right leg to the right, cross the left leg behind. Repeat if necessary
  • To the left: (clockwise direction)
  • Open left leg to the left, cross the right leg over in front, open the left leg to the left, cross the right leg behind. Repeat if necessary.
  • Remember - in front and behind - with sides in between!

3. OPEN AND CROSS (usually 4 counts, but can be 2)

Facing the centre:

  • (Anticlockwise) Open right leg to the right, cross the left leg over in
    front of the right. Repeat if necessary.
  • (Clockwise) Open left leg to the left, cross

4. TURNS

There are many types of turns!

In this introduction I will only mention 2:

a. Turning to the Right in 3 counts ( i.e. the right shoulder leads)

  • Starting with the right foot we step sideward on to the right foot first and then pivot on the right foot, step on to the left foot and then we step on the right foot again.
  • When we finish the turn, our full weight is on the right foot. Left foot is free
  • Note that there has to be a pivot on the second step as well.
  • The turn (Right) is clockwise and the individual (in a circle)
    moves counterclockwise.     (Otherwise you end up turning in place - like a corkscrew!)

b. Turning to the left - same as above - except we start with the left foot, turning through the Left shoulder, step on to the Right foot and then finish on the Left foot (all weight is on the Left foot because the Right foot is free)

Thanks to Ruth Schoenberg of New York for additional comments.